PREFACE. IX 



photographs or from rough sketches m pen-and-ink 

 and water-colours by the authors, whose only merit lies 

 in their essaying to represent in their native haunts 

 some of the least-known birds and beasts of Europe, 

 several of which, it is probable, have never before been 

 drawn from the life. If some of these sketches are not 

 as satisfactory as we could have wished, the difficulties 

 under which they were produced may serve as some 

 excuse. At the last moment we have had some of them 

 " translated " in London by Messrs. C. M. Sheldon and 

 A. T. Elwes, and are also indebted to Miss M. E. Craw- 

 hall for several sepia-drawings made by her in Spain. 



It had been our intention to append a list of the birds 

 of Spain, with their Spanish names and short notes on 

 each species ; but this we find would exceed our limits, 

 and moreover the blanks and "missing links" still re- 

 main so numerous that we have abandoned — or at least 

 deferred — that part of our programme. This may 

 explain a certain want of continuity or coherence, in an 

 ornithological sense. 



We are indebted to Lord Lilford and to Messrs. J. C. 

 Forster and Ralph W. Bankes for several valuable 

 notes and assistance, also to Admiral Sir M. Culme- 

 Seymour for photographs taken in "Wild Spain"; 

 while we cannot sufficiently express our gratitude to 

 Mr. Howard Saunders, who has in the kindest manner 

 gone through the proof-sheets, and whose long experi- 

 ence and intimate knowledge of Spain have been most 

 generously placed within our reach. For any serious 

 mistakes which may remain, the authors must be solely 

 responsible. 



December 31s^ 1892. 



