5 o6 MIGRATION OF BRITISH BIRDS. 



plenty or failure of fruits and berries •, as on thefe ac- 

 cidents many curious remarks may be founded. He 

 fhould cultivate an acquaintance with the gentlemen 

 of the navy, and other fea-faring people ; he mould 

 confult their journals, to difcover what birds light on 

 their fhips, at what feafons, in what latitudes, and in 

 what weather, and from what points ; and thus trace 

 them in their very courfe. 



A comparative view of the writings of thofe who 

 mould embrace this part of natural hiftory, would 

 throw great light on the fubject. But it is to be la- 

 mented, that none, except two northern naturaiifls, 

 Mr. Klein and Mr. Ekmarck* have profeffedly treated 

 on this point. The fouthern parts of Europe, which 

 may be fuppofed to receive, during winter, many of 

 our land birds, have as yet produced nofamtijl to af- 

 file the inquiries of the naturaiifls, which muft ac- 

 count for the imperfect knowlege we have of the re- 

 treat of many of our birds. 



We muft not omit, however, our acknowledge- 

 ments to two eminent pens that have treated this fub* 

 ject as far as it related to rural ceconomy -, and, in 

 inch a manner, as do honour to their refpective coun- 

 tries ; we mean Mr. Alex. Mai. Berger and Mr. SHI- 

 lingf.eet : whom we fhould not mention a fecond 

 time*, but to confefs the aid we here receive from 

 their faithful attention to the fubjeclin queftion. 



We wim that any thing we could fay, would in- 

 duce others of our countrymen to follow their exam- 

 ple : they need not fear that the matter is exhaufted, 



* Vide Preface. 



for 



