Vlll. 



MR. E. T. BOOTH'S 



INTRODUCTION to the FIRST EDITION (1876). 



As a Catalogue does not need a Preface, I will 

 simply state, by way of introduction, that all 

 scientific arrangement has been given up as hopeless 

 in a collection where the chief object has been to 

 endeavour to represent the birds in situations 

 somewhat similar to those in which they were 

 obtained ; many of the cases, indeed, being copied 

 from sketches taken on the actual spots where the 

 birds themselves were shot. 



The few notes and facts I have recorded are 

 solely the result of personal observation, and with 

 two or three exceptions (all noted) not a book of 

 reference has been opened. 



Those who expect to find a long list of rarities 

 will, I am afraid, be sadly disappointed, as, in order 

 to avoid exhibiting or describing a specimen with 

 which I was only acquainted by hearsay, I have 

 restricted the collection entirely to birds that have 

 fallen to my own gun, during various excursions 

 in the British Islands. 



