2 
INTRODUCTORY ; 
spected the greater portion of the coast-line, and visited the Pent- 
land Skerries, — the bird fauna of which has some very close 
relationships with that of East Caithness, especially as regards 
migrational phenomena, — in the summer of 1885 ; and he had 
several opportunities of obtaining views of the far-stretching inland 
" flows," as well as of inspecting the south-eastern portions around 
Berriedale and Langwell. 
During his stay at Thurso and Wick, Harvie-Brown also made 
the personal acquaintance of all the local naturalists, and spent 
many pleasant hours in their company. Especially does he desire 
to thank Messrs. Lewis Dunbar of Thurso and William Pi,eid of 
Wick for the keen interest they evinced and the assistance they 
rendered. To Mr. H. Osborne also in a most special and prominent 
degree are we grateful for placing in our hands the valuable 
manuscripts of his son, Mr. Henry Osborne, late of Wick, who, 
before his death in 1868, had nearly completed an Avi-fauna of 
his county. Indeed these manuscripts constitute a great part 
of this fauna, showing the state of the distribution of birds at and 
prior to that date, and proving of infinite value for purposes of 
comparison at the present time. As mentioned in the opening 
sentences of the part of our subject relating to birds, we have 
under all the species given prominence to Mr. H. Osborne's work ; 
made it indeed the basis of this Avi-fauna. We must thank Mr. 
H. Osborne, sen., for the confidence he has placed in us, and we 
hope we have fulfilled our part both to his satisfaction and to that 
of our readers. 
Our thanks are also most heartily accorded to others who have 
helped us, and who most hospitably received us, amongst whom 
are the Earl of Caithness and his resident factor, Captain Keith, 
at Barrogill Castle ; the Eev . J. M'Pherson of Canisbay, whose 
pleasant company and good-fellowship we enjoyed on more than 
one of our excursions when staying at Huna ; Mr. J. Sutherland 
and Sergeant Sandison, both of Wick, excellent taxidermists, well 
acquainted with the general bird-life of Caithness ; to Mrs. Duff 
Dunbar of Ackergill Tower we owe our best thanks for introductions 
and assistance : and we will not forget our good friends the light- 
