PREFACE. 



vii 



of Nature. When this shall have been done, 

 then there will be no more mention made of 

 owls erecting the feathery tufts on their heads 

 in the moment of surprise ; nor of young birds 

 (no matter of what species) being able to fly at 

 six days old. Numberless glaring faults will 

 then be corrected, and the naturalist will expe- 

 rience real pleasure when he opens books which 

 treat of ornithology. 



I have carefully omitted the harsh names 

 which have been given to our British birds : let 

 those make use of them who attach importance 

 to them ; I can make nothing of them. 



Some of our birds, quadrupeds, and insects, 

 have hitherto been described as particularly in- 

 jurious to the interests of agriculture; others, as 

 insatiate destroyers of fowls destined for our fes- 

 tive board ; whilst others, again, are considered 

 by the lower orders as agents, somehow or other 

 connected with witches, or with wisemen, as they 

 are called in Yorkshire, who know of things 

 lost, and of deeds done in the dark, and of 

 places where pretty milkmaids may find deserv- 

 ing swains, ready and willing to become their 

 A 4 



