Page:The birds of Tierra del Fuego - Richard Crawshay.djvu/57



Birds dealt with in this work do not claim to represent absolutely every species occurring in Tierra del Fuego; but they are. I believe, the most comprehensive collection yet made in the island, and include many recorded from there for the first time.

Such as it is, this collection is the work of my own hands. Alone as I was, an amateur, these results were not attained otherwise than slowly and laboriously, indeed wearily enough at times; for although the greatest consideration was shown me by the white settlers, conditions of life in this region are hardly conducive to work of the kind. Fellow travellers, then, who have practical experience of what Bird-collecting means in the earth's bye-ways—where so many pursuits claim their share of attention, and there is always one's life to live from day to day—will understand something of the effort involved.

As to this book, it is of the nature of a work of the kind that, no matter how assiduously or how long one may apply oneself, there abides with the conscientious author the knowledge at heart that the result is not as satisfactory as he could wish. Such is my feeling. The further I have progressed the more have I come to realize the immensity of the subject, to say nothing of collateral questions arising by the way. Its scope, in fact, is well nigh infinite. All I claim for this effort in the direction of comprehending it is that I have done my best.

In working at my Birds in the British Museum of Natural History, all facilities of access to the collection there have been accorded me by Dr. R. B. Sharpe and his staff.

To the Zoological Society and to the Royal Geographical Society I am indebted for unstinted use of their valuable