VI 
PEEEACE. 
Here at the very outset a difficulty arose. The notes were 
written on paper of the most miscellaneous description ; and occa- 
sionally on scraps so small that six or eight lines were crowded 
into a slip not exceeding an inch in breadth. To work with good 
effect on notes in such a state was impossible ; nor was it safe to 
make the attempt, for the sudden opening of a door or window, if 
a table were covered with such scraps, might have involved the 
loss of some precious fragment that could never be replaced. We 
resolved, therefore, in the first instance, to have the entire of the 
memoranda relating to the vertebrate animals carefully transcribed 
and compared with the originals. This was done, and every 
scrap in Mr. Thompson’s handwriting scrupulously preserved, so 
that, if needful at a future period, any one might be referred to. 
The next step was to fix on some general plan of arrangement, 
so that the several topics might follow in regular order. Tor our 
guidance in this matter we had Mr. Thompson’s “ Birds of Ire- 
land,” and the memoranda already noticed with respect to some 
of the fishes. A certain course was accordingly planned by Mr. 
G-arrett and myself ; and meeting with the approval of our friends 
Dr. Dickie and Mr. Hyndman, was adopted. 
We decided on making no change in such of the printed papers 
as we now republish, except where additional information had been 
acquired. We determined to give the facts, references, and de- 
scriptions in full, but to condense the enumeration of dates, names, 
localities, &c. It was obvious we might do our friend injustice by 
publishing too much, as well as by publishing too little. 
Another question now arose. How was the information em- 
bodied in these notes to be written out P It was desirable to use, 
as far as possible, the very words that Mr. Thompson had em- 
ployed. The book should be his composition, not ours. Yet to 
give to the world the hurried jottings of the moment, and the 
unrevised memoranda of successive years, could not be thought of. 
We knew how carefully the “ Birds of Ireland” had been written, 
and with what critical and fastidious nicety the proof-sheets had 
been corrected by him, and that he had even availed himself of the 
kindly criticism of two of his attached friends. We felt sure that 
had he lived the present volume would have been an object of 
equal solicitude ; and we thought that we might endeavour to do 
what would have been done by him. It was agreed, therefore, that 
detached memoranda might be united, that the facts observed by 
