PREFACE. 
XI 
from friends like Mr. Robert Read, Mr. E. W, De Winton, 
Mr. W. R. Ogilvie Grant, Mr. A. Trevor-Battye, Mr. Abel 
Chapman, and other kind helpers, but I have taken most of 
my quotations on the habits of birds from Seebohm’s well- 
known history. I knew Seebohm intimately for many years, 
and accompanied him to Heligoland, and other places on 
the continent of Europe, and I can testify to the keenness 
With which he laboured to try and collect facts for his 
“History of British Birds.” Of his ideas of “Classification,” 
and how his facts were obtained for the demonstration of his 
Systems, this is not the place to speak, though I should like 
to take this opportunity of repudiating the idea that in my 
Classification of birds, published in 1891, I was a “ disciple” 
of Seebohm’s, as Professor Newton (Diet. B. Intr. p. 103, note) 
has lately suggested ; for a considerable portion of my essay 
IS devoted to the exposure of what I consider to be errors on 
Seebohm’s part. I have not detected any plagiarism in the 
atters History of British Birds,” but, on the contrary, from 
my knowledge of his method of work in the field, and the 
ample diaries which he kept on those occasions, I believe that 
his notes on the habits of birds are more original than those 
AT other English publications except, perhap.s, those of 
Macgillivray and Booth. 
I cannot conclude this preface without acknowledging, with 
m utmost sincerity, the kind help and advice which I have 
mceived from my old friend Howard Saunders, witliout 
lose assistance I should never have had the courage to 
n ertake such a laborious and tedious occupation as the pre- 
ration of even a small book like this “ Handbook ” has proved 
wav^f’ ^ found in some 
y to compensate for thfe labour involved in its preparation. 
R. BOWDI.ER SHARPE. 
Chiswick, March 
10, 1897. 
