IV 
PREFACE. 
in attempting to elucidate, from their own obfervations* the va- 
rious branches of Natural Hiftory, and in communicating them 
to others. Something like a fociety in each county, for the 
purpofe of collecting a variety of thefe obfervations, as well as 
for general correfpondence, would be extremely ufeful and ne- 
ceffary : Much might be expected from a combination of this 
kind extending through every part of the kingdom ; a general 
mode of communication might be thereby eflablifhed, in order 
to afcertain the changes which are continually taking place, par- 
ticularly among the feathered tribes ; the times of their appear- 
ing and difappearing would be carefully noted ; the differences 
of age, fex, food, &c. would claim a particular degree of atten- 
tion, and would be the means of correcting a number of errors 
which have crept into the works of fome of the molt eminent 
ornithologies, and of avoiding the confufion arifing from ail 
over-anxious defire of encreafing the numbers of each particular 
kind : But it is referved, perhaps, for times of greater tranquil- 
lity, when the human mind, undifturbed by public calamities, 
fliall find leifure to employ itfelf, without interruption, in the 
purfuit of thofe objects which enlarge its powers and give dig- 
nity to its exertions, to carry into the fullefl effeCt a plan for in- 
vefligations of this fort. 
In this refpeCt no author has been more fuccefsful than the 
celebrated Count de Buffon Defpifing the reftraints which 
methodical arrangements generally impofe, he ranges at large 
through the various walks of Nature, and defcribes her with a 
brilliancy of colouring which the moft lively imagination only 
could fuggefl. It mull, however, be allowed, that in many in- 
flances, that ingenious philofopher has overftepped the bounds of 
Nature, and, in giving the reins to his own luxuriant fancy, has 
been too frequently hurried into the wild paths of conjeClure 
and romance. The late Mr White, of Selborne, has added 
much to the general flock of knowledge on this delightful 
fubjed, by attentively and faithfully recording whatever fell un- 
der his own obfervations, and by liberal communications to 
others. 
