INTRODUCTION.
7
Union. It is obviously, therefore, of greater weight than any list
compiled by a single person only. I am of opinion that the present
unsettled and unsatisfactory state of scientific nomenclature has been
long enough a disgrace to men of science. It is in reality quite im-
material by what name a species is known, so long as it is by
common consent known by that name. But the height of absurdity
has been reached, and the utility of any nomenclature at all has
been almost destroyed, when it is necessary, after mentioning a
particular name, to add by whom it was (and often by whom it was
not) bestowed !
(g.) Scope and Aims of the Work.
In compiling the present volume, I have endeavoured to carry
out my own ideas as to what the scope and nature of such a work
should be. In my opinion, such works should be essentially, and in
the first place, local works. General information as to the habits
and natural history of the species described, though not actually out
of place, if space permits its insertion, is, nevertheless, by no means a
prime requisite. A county or other local ornithology should, according
to my ideas, deal primarily with the distribution and the frequency
or otherwise of the species found within the area treated of, and
of their habits and migrations within that area. More general
information should, I consider, be reserved for more comprehensive
and general works, treating of the entire natural history of the
species. Hence, I have inserted in these pages, very little upon the
general habits of birds.
NOTE.—Mr. Joseph Clarke is of opinion that many birds are scarcer now
than formerly. He writes me as follows : " A goldfinch is now never seen here,
though many years ago there were several nests upon the trees in my garden at
The Roos. This may be owing in some measure to better farming, which
eradicates the thistles, the seeds of which constitute their chief food. The
bullfinch has also disappeared, and the mischievous sparrows now take its place.
We have but few swallows, and scarcely a martin, whilst the nightingale has quite
deserted us, as also the glow-worm, which may be appropriately associated with
it. Years ago a hundred of the latter might be picked up during a walk between
here and Saffron Walden, a distance of two miles. The lapwing, too, which used
to be plentiful on our hills, is not now to be seen, and many other species now
absent might be mentioned."