X 
PREFACE. 
coiilideiitly assume that every current statement of fact is 
either literally or in substance a transcript from the author’s 
note-H^oks, the greatest care having been taken to isolate, 
either in foot-notes or within brackets in the text, all additions 
by the less competent hand. 
One notable and altogether inevitable shortcoming must of 
course be in the entire omission of other than a general allu- 
sion to the many friends and fellow-ornithologists to whose coun- 
sels and criticisms the Author was so deeply indebted, and in 
communication with whom he found so keen a pleasure during 
the long years of his residence in a region remote from the 
great centres of intellectual life. His kinsfolk can divine some- 
thing of his feeling from the profound gratification caused them 
by the expressions of brotherly goodwill and sympathy which, 
upon the announcement of his sudden decease, poured in from 
every well-known name in his especial department of science. 
I fear to mention any, but all will understand with how good 
warrant I speak when a handful of the names will be such as 
He^vton, Harting, Cordeaux, Harvie Brown, Scott Skirving, 
Feilden, Hadfield, &c., &c. ; nor will any fail to appreciate the 
value of an endorsement of such testimony by hands so far- 
reaching as those of Mr Gwyn Jeffreys or of Professor 
Cunningham; or last, though very far from least, of him who 
has for so many years sat at the focal point, Mr Edward 
Newman. 
]\Iy own personal acknowledgments are likewise due to 
many, and notably to the Duke of Argyll, who very kindly 
examined with me at Inveraray the MSS. and journals, and 
gave very useful counsel as to the mode of completion of the 
work. I must also return very sincere thanks to Professor 
Newton for his most friendly offer to correct the proofs, 
even though, from various circumstances, I was unable to 
take advantage of it. To numerous others also my best 
thanks are due for the zeal shown in procuring subscribers 
to the book. 
As regards the book itself, the original purpose was that 
