Page:The Natural History of Ireland vol1.djvu/24

 the subject of the increase and decrease of species. But it is hoped that sufficient has been said to denote the desirableness of our possessing full and accurate ornithological statistics of Ireland, such as the author intends to give in the detailed notices of the species throughout the work.

The author expects to be enabled to furnish a carefully drawn up list of the Irish names of native birds for the concluding volume.

It now only remains for him to return his most grateful acknowledgements to all whose names appear as contributors of information throughout the work. Every one in Ireland known to the author as possessing positive knowledge on the subject of native birds, on being applied to, most cheerfully imparted the result of his observations. Indeed, so fully have these been taken advantage of, that the work should rather be considered that of Irish ornithologists generally than of the individual whose name appears on the title page.

Belfast, Dec., 1848.