ub, 



PEEFACE. 



THE following chapters contain the unpretending 

 record of a short summer tour made by myself to 

 the Orkney Islands in the months of May and June, 

 1860, under a youthful desire of becoming practically 

 acquainted with their Natural History, and with a 

 view of obtaining " specimens " for my private col- 

 lection. They shortly afterwards made their appear- 

 ance, at various intervals, in the columns of the 

 ' Field ' newspaper ; and their republication having 

 been urgently solicited by several private friends, 

 I am enabled, by the kind permission of the Editor 

 of that journal, to offer them in their present form 

 to the indulgence of the public. 



I am grateful, also, for the opportunity thus 

 afforded me of expressing my acknowledgments to 

 my friends, Mr. Scarth of Bin Scarth, and Mr. 

 Watt of Skael, for so kindly facilitating my exertions 



iv 7 



