VI PREFACE. 



terranean, the Bay of Biscay, and the English- 

 Channel is an undoubted fact. They have been 

 seen to arrive upon our shores, and have been 

 observed at sea during their passage, often at a 

 considerable distance from land. 



But how few of those who notice them in this 

 country know where they come from, why they 

 come, what they find here to live upon, how, 

 when, and where they go for the winter ! 



In the following chapters an attempt has been 

 made to answer these questions, and to give 

 such information generally about our summer 

 migratory birds as will prove acceptable to 

 many who may be glad to possess it without 

 knowing exactly where to look for it. Some of 

 these sketches Avere originally published in the 

 Natural History columns of" The Field " during 

 the summer of 1871, and as a reprint has fre- 

 quently been asked for, I have now carefully 

 revised them and made some important addi- 

 tions and emendations, besides adding to the 

 series a dozen or more chapters which have 

 never before appeared. 



