INTRODUCTION. IX 



thereby, for they will not bear criticism, but 

 for the purpose of furnishing a guide to those 

 who might be desirous of visiting these islands 

 to collect specimens of Natural History, — I 

 have determined upon complying with their 

 request ; and I trust, from the experience I 

 have had, I shall be able to point out to the 

 traveller the easiest and most convenient 

 routes, the localities where the various spe- 

 cies of birds are to be found, the mode of 

 obtaining them, the articles necessary on 

 such occasions, and the description of guns 

 I found to answer best. 



Had I on my first visit possessed such a 

 guide it would have saved me much time 

 and money, two things of vast importance 

 to a traveller of my description, especially 

 when his time is limited and his funds not 

 very extensive. 



In detailing some account of my wander- 

 ings it is not my intention to enter into a 

 minute description of the Orkney and Shet- 

 land Islands or their productions, much 

 having already been published on this sub- 



