4 INTRODUCTION. 
My chances for observing birds have been 
rather limited, as I have had only some after- 
noons and Sundays, during the summer months, 
thus I have no doubt overlooked some species. 
Very few species raise their young here, and 
those nests which I have found, were mostly 
those of birds which breed on the ground, or oc- 
casionally in low bushes. Migrating species 
make a very brief stay, as, on account of the 
comparatively barren nature of the soil and 
scarcity of trees, there is but little to attract 
them here. 
Hull, as every one knows, is a peninsula^ 
with five hills and stretches of level, sandy soil 
sparsely covered with rather coarse grass. There 
are very few trees, except those that grow near 
the hills. Point Allerton, it is said, was covered 
with trees in early times and a legend of the 
