PREFACE. 



xi 



proceeded to the Ionian Islands, reaching Corfu on 

 Christmas Day 1856, and there he stayed "off and on" 

 until July 1858, making frequent excursions for sport 

 or natural history to the opposite coast of Epirus or 

 iEtolia, going even so far to the northward as Monte- 

 negro. The results of this prolonged residence in those 

 parts were communicated by him to 'The Ibis' for 

 1860 — the establishment of which journal he cordially 

 approved, joining the British Ornithologists' Union so 

 soon as he heard of its intended formation — and while 

 they shew with what earnestness he entered into his 

 pursuits, undeterred by bad weather, fatigue, or sickness, 

 the same series of papers reveals in many a passage that 

 delicate and admirable humour which so markedly 

 distinguished him. 



Leaving the Ionian Islands he proceeded to the 

 Sardinian dominions, being very desirous of shooting 

 an Ibex ; but herein his hopes were mortified, for on 

 reaching Savoy he found that but a short time before 

 the chase of that animal had been forbidden to all but 

 the King (Victor Emmanuel), and leave even to look at 

 one was not to be obtained. He consequently had to 

 content himself with Chamois, whose acquaintance he 

 had already made in Thessaly, and subsequently with 

 the Moufflon in Sardinia. However he was not mean- 

 while without compensation ; for, by the beginning of 

 1859, he had become engaged to marry Emma Elizabeth, 

 the very beautiful daughter of Mr. Robert William 

 Brandling, of Low Gosforth in Northumberland, to 



