Birds. 8939 
admitted of its being undertaken. I can only express my sincere wish 
that whenever this rock is reached, the bold adventurer may reap a 
fitting reward; but at the same time I must declare my hope that in 
such case he will be careful to see that the best possible use is made 
of the spoil. The mere addition to the already considerable number 
of stuffed skins and blown egg-shells of the species which are dispersed 
in various collections will be no addition whatever to Science. If the 
bird is doomed to extinction, and such, I fear, is its fate, all who are 
concerned in bringing about the catastrophe are bound to see that the 
most is made of whatever chance may throw in their way. It should 
accordingly be their object, if possible, to capture the examples alive, 
and transmit them as speedily and carefully as possible to the gardens 
of the Zoological Society of London, where they are sure of receiving 
every attention; where their gestures may be studied, and their atti- 
tudes transferred to the painter’s canvass. Or should circumstances 
hinder the birds from being taken alive, the whole bodies should be 
preserved in spirit or brine, or by the application of pyroligneous acid, 
and thus rendered serviceable for the anatomist’s scalpel. The same 
may be said of the eggs; their contents should on no account be 
thrown away. but taken care of in the same manner as the birds, for 
it is difficult to exaggerate the value of embryology in the present state 
of scientific research. Professed naturalists are of course aware of all 
this, but these words may haply be read by some who would otherwise 
think that ‘by neatly preparing the skins, and according to the most 
approved method blowing the eggs of the very last of the gare-fowls, 
they were advancing the study of Natural History. 
Having thus indicated the most prominent features in the Orni- 
thology of Iceland, I will conclude by giving a list of the birds, which, 
as nearly as I can ascertain, have been hitherto met with in that 
country ; in drawing it up my object has been to exclude all, about the 
occurrence of which any reasonable doubt may be said to exist, though 
reference is made to most of them in the notes. This list is rather in- 
tended for the scientific than the general public. It will be found that 
I have quoted especially from Faber, whom I consider by far the best 
authority on the subject, and I only hope I have not been unneces- 
sarily critical, especially when speaking of the labours of Herr Preyer, 
from whose opinion I am unfortunately so often compelled to dissent. 
Whitetailed Eagle (Haliaétus albicilla, Linn.) Generally dis- 
tributed throughout the island in the vicinity of water, but nowhere 
very abundant. Breeds and, according to Faber, remains during the 
winter. 
