PREFACE. 
V? 
which it is ufually claffed, its bufinefs being wholly among ra* 
pid running ftreams, in which it chiefly delights, and from 
whence it derives its fupport. 
This work, of which the firfl: volume is all that is now offer- 
ed to the public, will contain an account of all the various tribes 
of birds either conftantly refiding in, or occafionally vifiting, 
our ifland, accompanied with reprefentations of almoft every 
fpecies, faithfully drawn from Nature, and engraven on wood. 
It may be proper to obferve, that while one of the Editors of 
this work was engaged in preparing the engravings, the compi- 
lation of the defcriptions was undertaken by the other, fubjeCt, 
however, to the corrections of his friend, whofe habits had led 
him to a more intimate acquaintance with this branch of Natu- 
ral Hiftory : The Compiler, therefore, is anfwerable for the de- 
fects which may be found in this part of the undertaking, con- 
cerning which he has little to fay, but that it was the produc- 
tion of thofe hours which could be fpared from a laborious em- 
ployment, and on that account he hopes the feverity of criti- 
cifm will be fpared, and that it will be received with that in- 
dulgence which has been already experienced on a former oc- 
cafion. 
Newcastle upon Tyne, September , 17^7^ 
