PREFACE vii 
surrounding sea. Both naturally and artificially, the land- 
scape of Man, like its life, has a strong national character, 
out of all proportion to the insignificant size of the isle. 
In the preparation of the work, I have met with assist- 
ance from many friends and correspondents in all parts of 
the island and outside it, too numerous to mention here, but 
whose names will be found attached to the items of infor- 
mation furnished, and to whom I have to express my 
orateful appreciation of their interest in my labour, and 
the ready and painstaking way in which they have 
furthered it. I cannot, however, omit here a_ special 
acknowledgment to Mr. P. M. C. Kermode, of Ramsey, 
whose previous lists, afterwards mentioned in more detail, 
have supplied a groundwork for this book; Mr. J. C. 
Crellin, H.K., of Ballachurry; Messrs. F. W. Leach and 
G. Adams, of Douglas (to the latter of whom I owe much for 
bringing under my notice many specimens which from time 
to time have passed through his hands as a taxidermist). 
Mr, A. Allison has taken much trouble to procure me 
information from the interesting Maughold district. 
My particular thanks are due to Mr, F. 8. Graves, 
of Alderley Edge, for the numerous notes contributed by 
him from his long and intimate knowledge of the bird life 
of his native island, and especially of the Peel district, and 
also for permission to reproduce photographs of many of 
the scenes described. Many of the observations given 
in my own name were also made in the company of 
Mr, Graves (I may particularly mention those noted during 
our stay on the Calf in 1901), and he has looked over the 
entire draft of the volume, and made a number of sugges- 
tions—the results of which are incorporated in the text. 
