xiv. INTKODUCTION 



carried on in adverse no less than in genial weather, in 

 remote and difficult places no less than on the silvery beach 

 over which one can travel for miles without growing tired, 

 than by yielding to an impetuous desire to shoot every 

 specimen which happens to come within range of the fowling- 

 piece. 



The destruction of sea-birds, especially of Terns and 

 Gulls for millinery and other useless purposes, is in a 

 marked degree brutal, and in those pages dealing with the 

 species generally victimised, I have not refrained from 

 expressing an opinion on the subject. Happily in many 

 districts sea-birds and their eggs are now protected by 

 law, and it is to be hoped that this protection will be 

 extended to other districts. The Societies for the Protec- 

 tion of Wild Birds in both Great Britain and Ireland, are 

 doing such excellent and energetic work in this direction 

 that it is needless to say more. 



Fortunately the large majority of shore-frequenting 

 birds breed in latitudes far north of the British Isles, where 

 their eggs and young are little molested, and so despite the 

 raids of the gunner the numbers are well kept up. But 

 some, such as the Chough and Kite, in seeming danger of 

 becoming extinct as British breeding-species, deserve to be 

 put under the rigid protection of the Law. 



The Systematic Ornithologist who would study plumages 

 and structural characters must of course collect a certain 

 number of specimens, and any one who possesses a real love 

 for field-work will, no doubt, prefer to collect his own. It is 

 true that the pursuit of birds often demands endurance, 

 patience, and tactful manoauvring, in the course of which, 

 however, much practical knowledge can be gained ; indeed 

 field-work properly carried out is the keystone to Systematic 

 Ornithology. But it frequently happens that time and 

 opportunity are not afforded to secure certain specimens 

 which may be particularly needed, and so one is driven to 

 seek the aid of others. Here the sportsman can often 

 materially help. Indeed the numbers of strange birds, 

 which from time to time fall to his gun, are remarkable, 

 especially those skulking, marsh-frequenting species, which 

 only a well-trained dog can flush, and a keen-sighted and 

 clever marksman can bag. It were indeed to be wished 



