VI 
PKEFACE. 
perusal which, almost at every step, beset the reader's path, in 
the form of dates, localities, &c. 
The author very much regrets that the list of Irish names of 
native birds is not yet ready (as he had hoped it would have 
been) ; the gentleman who has the catalogue in progress being 
unable to complete it in time. 
This volume cannot be allowed to go forth without the remark, 
that so great has been the mania for collecting birds' eggs during 
the last few years — though not in one case out of ten, with 
any scientific object in view — that the author has often, in the 
course of preparation of the last two volumes, been obliged to 
pause and consider whether he should name particular breeding- 
haunts of those grallatorial and natatorial birds whose nests being 
placed upon the ground, are easily discovered, lest he should be 
the innocent cause of their banishment from the locality. He 
feels well assured that if the rage for egg-collecting continues, 
many a species will be driven from its present haunt. 
The cruelty of shooting great numbers of marine birds in the 
breeding season has been mentioned in connexion with different 
species in this work, and it is feared will not be abated, so long as 
the proprietors of islets or rocky headlands permit such slaughter 
to be committed upon their property. Everywhere around the 
coast, and at inland lakes where birds are not specially pro- 
tected, their rapid decrease is apparent, in consequence of wanton 
persecution. The birds at Lambay Island, off the Dublin 
coast, having decreased remarkably of late years, inquiry as to 
the cause was made, and the following reason, among others, 
communicated: — About the year 1842, an officer laid a wager 
that he would shoot 500 birds here in a day, and went to 
the island with every requisite for his murderous purpose. 
