PREFACE. 



xiii 



We are especially indebted to the late Mr. Macleay, 

 the well-known taxidermist of Inverness, for the loan of 

 his ledgers, containing entries of all the examples of birds 

 and animals sent to him for preservation. These records 

 extend over a great number of years, and date from 

 1850 to 1892. Besides, he was at all times ready and 

 willing to assist in every way, and this he was well able 

 to do, from having such a long and extensive knowledge 

 of the Northern Highlands. 



Our acknowledgments are due to the many pro- 

 prietors of estates, and their factors and gamekeepers, 

 who have from time to time replied to our inquiries, and 

 given us great facilities in prosecuting our personal 

 surveys of the different portions of our area which we 

 were able to overtake. 



Especially are our grateful thanks owing to the 

 artists and photographic artists who have contributed 

 towards the illustrative portions of our volumes, viz., to 

 the late Edward Hargitt, Messrs. Colin Phillip, Thomas 



Club, which he delivered ( The Scientijic Materials of the North ami our Scientific 

 Work, by William Jolly, Her Majesty's Inspector of Schools, President of the 

 Society, p. 47), and he took the further occasion to draw attention to what * other 

 towns of far less population and importance had attempted along the south shore 

 of the Moray Firth. ' Since that time much most excellent work has been done 

 by the Inveniess Society, but, as we have seen above, of that a very small 

 proportion refers to the Vertebrata. 



