1244 The Zoologist— June, 1868. 



woods are to be found, but contenting itself with mountain-wastes 

 where the shelter of trees is not to be attained. 



Other species, again, are littoral or marine, and can only be found 

 in their natural habitats in the vicinity of the sea; and when such 

 species occur in inland situations we know at once that their presence 

 is accidental, aud entirely independent of geographical conditions. 



Still, again, there are what may be called irruptions of species from 

 foreign parts, as that of the sand grouse and waxwing — irruptions for 

 which neither the scarcity of food, nor the ordinary migratory impulse, 

 nor the cares of the breeding season will offer any explanation. 



Though we may advantageously study these phenomena with the 

 utmost care, we shall find that the comital division of a little island 

 like Britain affords few natural areas of attraction for birds. Never- 

 theless it has ever been a favourite occupation with our ornithologists, 

 not only to compile county lists, but to make them the vehicles by 

 which to convey their own personal observations on species into the 

 studies of their fellow-labourers ; and they thus become of present use, 

 and haply, in the lapse of time, of permanent value, but this utility and 

 value must ever depend rather on the observations which have a 

 general significance than on their association with particular districts: 

 an original observation in any branch of Natural History is always 

 worthy of preservation, while the incessant repetition of familiar facts 

 becomes as wearisome to the instructed as it is useless to the ignorant 

 reader. 



A few of the lists which 1 recollect at this moment may be 

 enumerated as containing information worthy of preservation. 



1519 to 1578. Household and Privy Purse Accounts of the Le- 

 stranges, of Hunstanton, published by Mr. D. Gurney, in the 'Trans- 

 actions of the Royal Society of Antiquaries' for 1833, affords very 

 positive evidence as to species of Birds inhabiting Norfolk at that 

 early period, and has been availed of by subsequent writers on the 

 Ornithology of Norfolk, a county peculiarly fortunate in the number 

 and attainments of its ornithologists. 



1682. An Account of Birds found in Norfolk. By Sir Thomas 

 Browne. A work of which Mr. Stevenson observes that it affords the 

 means of comparing, with singular accuracy, the present state of the 

 county with its ornithological conditions about two hundred years 

 ago. 



1826. A Catalogue of the Norfolk and Suffolk Birds, with Remarks. 

 By the Rev. R. Sheppard and the Rev. W. Whitear. This was pub- 



