INTRODUCTION. 
XIX. 
British Birds. Many local names have been added, and a 
suitable quotation, when available, from one of our Hamp- 
shire poets. 
In collecting local names, we have made use of 
Swainson's " Folk-Lore of British Birds," besides the 
authorities already quoted. 
A great number of migrants undoubtedly visit our 
coasts and pass rapidly on to their summer or winter 
quarters ; but on the whole the lights on our coasts are 
not good stations for observation ; the lighthouses at the 
Needles and at Hurst are apparently out of the direct 
course of migrants, and Mr. Charlton at St. Catherine's 
Lighthouse informs us that he thinks the new rapidly 
flashing light, which has lately been installed there, rather 
scares the birds away at night. Two light-vessels — the 
Warner and Nab — complete the number of lights on our 
coasts. 
GEOGRAPHICAL. 
Hampshire is one of the largest counties in England, 
and has an area of 1621 square miles. 
We have, however, not attempted any elaborate division 
of the county into a number of districts, but have con- 
sidered that four districts will best divide it up for the 
purposes of this work ; these are : — 
The New Forest district, at the south-west corner, 
which includes all that portion of the county which lies to 
the west of Southampton Water. 
The Isle of Wight. 
The Northern Woodlands, which is roughly that part 
of the county watered by streams which do not flow into 
the Solent or English Channel, and js bounded on the 
