vi PREFACE. 



perusal which, almost at every step, beset the reader's path, in 

 the form of dates, localities, &c. 



The author very much regrets that the list of Irish names of 

 native birds is not yet ready (as he had hoped it would have 

 been) ; the gentleman who has the catalogue in progress being 

 unable to complete it in time. 



This volume cannot be allowed to go forth without the remark, 

 that so great has been the mania for collecting birds' eggs during 

 the last few years — though not in one case out of ten, with 

 any scientific object in view — that the author has often, in the 

 course of preparation of the last two volumes, been obhged to 

 pause and consider whether he should name particular breeding- 

 haunts of those grallatorial and natatorial birds whose nests being 

 placed upon the ground, are easily discovered, lest he should be 

 the innocent cause of their banishment from the locaKty. He 

 feels well assured that if the rage for egg-collecting continues, 

 many a species will be driven from its present haunt. 



The cruelty of shooting great numbers of marine birds in the 

 breeding season has been mentioned in connexion with different 

 species in this work, and it is feared will not be abated, so long as 

 the proprietors of islets or rocky headlands permit such slaughter 

 to be committed upon their property. Everywhere around the 

 coast, and at inland lakes where birds are not specially pro- 

 tected, their rapid decrease is apparent, in consequence of wanton 

 persecution. The birds at Lambay Island, off the Dublin 

 coast, having decreased remarkably of late years, inquiry as to 

 the cause was made, and the following reason, among others, 

 communicated :— About the year 1842, an officer laid a wager 

 that he would shoot 500 birds here in a day, and went to 

 the island with every requisite for his murderous purpose. 



