Descriptions of the Rapacious Birds of Great Britain

ISBN: 9781334733604 出版年：2016 页码：503 William Macgillivray Forgotten Books

An apology for offering a new book on birds to those who may be pleased to accept it, is quite unnecessary. It is evident that none which has yet appeared contains perfect descriptions, and it is probable that the best of which we can boast will at no distant period he looked upon as in many respects extremely childish. But, as I am desirous that you should not adopt any prejudice tending to induce you to form an erroneous idea of my performance, I may be allowed to present you with a few particulars of my history, shewing that I have eu joyed excellent opportunities of examining the objects of which I treat. I commenced the study of Zoology in 1817, while qualifying myself for the medical proa fession' at Aberdeen, a city not less famed for learned professors than for dried haddocks. My only guides were Linnaeus and Pennant, for at that period I knew no living wight who had any knowledge of the subject.