rNTE0DX7CTI0:S". XXlll 



specimens to he taken for scientific purposes ; for it is absolutely 

 necessary that in our public Museums bii'ds should be preserved 

 in their various plumages. Henceforth, if this Act, unaltered, be 

 strictly enforced, it will be impossible to procure specimens of the 

 protected birds in their breeding and first or nest plumages. 



All that can be said in favoiir of this measure is that it evinces 

 a desire to do something for the preservation of the feathered 

 tribes, and that it gives hope that before long something more 

 rational and more efficient will be produced. 



The most remarkable feature in our catalogue is perhaps its 

 numerical extent. We have seen that in this respect it does not 

 fall far behind that of IN'orfolk, a county remarkable for the ex- 

 tent of its avifauna. 



The two ^hundred and sixty-five species of our catalogue are 

 divisible into residents, spring-and-autumn migrants, autumn or 

 winter visitants, and casual visitants. And here a few words are 

 necessary to explain the exact sense in which these terms are 

 employed. At the same time it must be understood that they 

 are applicable only to the birds of our district ; for a species with 

 us may be a mere casual visitant or winter visitant, while it 

 is a resident British bird. 



A resident is a species that remains in the district throughout 

 the year, whether it breeds in it or not. If a few individuals only 

 remain throughout the year though the greater number migrate, 

 the species is considered a resident. The Sparrow, Common Gull, 

 and Crossbill, are examples. 



A spring-and-autumn migrant arrives in spring, breeds in the 

 district, and departs in autumn. Of this, the Swallow is a type. 



An autumn or winter visitant arrives in autumn or winter, and 

 departs shortly or sojourns till spring. Examples are the Green 

 Sandpiper and the Fieldfare. 



A casual visitant is one that does not regularly visit the dis- 

 trict, but whose appearance is uncertaia. Under this term are 

 included not only the species which visit the district at irregular 

 periods, of which the Hoopoe and Eose-coloured Pastor are ex- 

 amples, but those likewise that are mere strays, such as Pallas's 

 Sand Grouse and White's Thrush. 



