X PREFACE. 



not to be confounded with another work with that title published 

 by Mr Low. 



In the preparation of the Gaelic synonymes of the birds I have 

 received every assistance from Messrs. John Macdonald of Buckie, 

 Dugald C. Macdonald, Alexander A. Carmichael, Alexander 

 Macdougall, and other friends connected with the Long Island; and 

 I here take this opportunity of recording my grateful thanks to 

 these friends for all the kindness shewn me while traversing the 

 Outer Hebrides. Without such material aid, indeed, as I was 

 fortunate enough to secure, my researches there might have ended 

 with less satisfactory results. 



To my friend Mr William Sinclair my best thanks are due for 

 the bird illustrations which Mr Bott has so faithfully reproduced ; 

 and to another friend, Mr Thomas S. Hutcheson, I am also 

 indebted for many kind services while the book has been in 

 the printer's hands. In the course of my wanderings, proof 

 sheets have, through his careful attention, followed me into 

 the midst of the remotest bird haunts and wildest scenery, 

 and been revised often in the open air during sunshine and 

 storm, with all the elements at hand for consulting the best 

 authorities the birds themselves. 



It remains only to be added that the utmost care has been taken 

 to verify the whole of the information contained in this volume, 

 and that all records of a doubtful nature have been rigidly excluded 

 from it. Although in the experience of almost every naturalist 

 opinions based upon the investigations of many years become 

 more or less modified as observations extend, I hope I may still 

 be allowed to say for myself that during a long course of practical 

 research among the Birds of Scotland, I have been especially 

 guarded in noting only what in after years may freely be sub- 

 jected to the closest scrutiny. 



E.G. 



GLASGOW, October, 1871. 



