Excerpt from The Land Birds in and Around St. Andrews: Including a Condensed History of the British Land Birds, With Extracts From the Poets and Observations and Anecdotes on Natural History
The origin of this little work dates as far back as January 1855, when attending Dr Day"s lectures (by invitation) in the United College, for in one of my notes written at that time the following reason is given: -
"Having bought some books on Natural History, and finding the store from which the lectures are taken, it is waste of time to write them from memory. I will go on collecting shells, crabs, eggs, birds, and birds" skins, and refer to these books to tell me their names and habits - my object being to collect most of the shells, birds" eggs, and birds found in Britain. Without a beginning there cannot be an end, so I now begin to follow up this pursuit, and, with good health, expect to find both success and happiness, which the mere pleasure-hunter, idler, or gossiper can never realise."
Another early note of March 1856 says: "These notes are simply a conglomeration of observations and facts which have come under my notice - hastily and without order set down at different times - but, although they may appear redundant, still something useful can be taken out of them, as their intention is merely to provide a kind of store for future use - not meant to be read otherwise than as a sort of granary of facts, to be culled at leisure" - hence this book.
There is enough material for a second volume, on "The Water Birds" - which may yet appear in print.
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