vi PREFACE 
I have supposed in my readers a certain degree of 
acquaintance with the subject of British ornithology, and 
have refrained from attempting to describe, or even diag- 
nose, the Manx species. To carry out such a_ task 
thoroughly and efficiently presents no small difficulty, if I 
may judge from the many discrepancies and omissions 
found in comparing works on popular lines, Such descrip- 
tions, to be really useful to the learner, would also have 
unduly increased the bulk of the volume, and have been 
unacceptable to most of those into whose hands it may 
fall. Those who require an elementary knowledge of our 
bird fauna may be referred to such standard works as those 
of ‘ Yarrell, Dresser, and Seebohm, or to the more concise 
and less expensive ‘ Manual’ of Mr. H. Saunders, Mr. W. H. 
Hudson’s British Birds, the cheap and_ graphically 
written (but unfortunately in some respects out of date) 
work of C. A. Johns, British Birds in their Haunts, 
and the excellent shilling Manual by the late regretted 
H. A. Macpherson. 
I have, however, endeavoured to emphasise everything 
relating to a bird, which is peculiar to it, or characteristic 
of it, as Manx; and tosuch species as have special interest 
(from their general rarity as British or otherwise) particular 
attention has been directed, and the account of their haunts 
and habits in Man made as complete as possible. 
I have thought it suitable to add a somewhat detailed, 
though brief, topographical sketch of the island’s physical 
features. It will be observed that they have much affinity 
with those of many districts of northern England and 
southern Scotland, yet with a difference in which perhaps 
is dominant the ever-present sense of the nearness of the 
