Br 16560.9.2

HARVARD COLLECT

FEB 14 1916

LIBRARY

Fine mey

LEWIS AND SON, PRINTERS, SWAY BUILDINGS, MOORGATE STREET.

PREFACE.

MORE than four years' residence in Guernsey,―a central position, where frequent opportunities are afforded of visiting Jersey, Alderney, Sark and Herm,-and an intimate acquaintance with various Residents in the Channel Islands and Visitors interested in literary and scientific pursuits, have seemed to the Writer to justify him in undertaking the present work. He may be regarded as the general Editor as well as one of the Authors..

That the Channel Islands, as a group, deserve and require a monograph, will, it is believed, be admitted without a question. That no treatise, combining a general description of them with a careful account of their Natural History, Ethnology and Archaeology, has yet been published, is certain. It is for the public to decide how far the present work is sufficient and satisfactory.

The work is divided into four parts. For the first part-a Physical and Descriptive account of the Islands and their Climate-the Editor is alone responsible. With regard to the second part-general Natural History-the case is different. The Editor not being conversant with the details of Botany and Zoology, has sought and obtained the assistance of many friends and acquaintances, residents, and visitors, all zealous and able Naturalists, who have communicated the results of their investigations in the most frank and friendly manner. A list of

the names of these, and of others to whom the Authors are indebted for information, is published at the end of the preface, and an acknowledgment of the special services of each will be found in the text. The magnitude and importance of the assistance obtained in technical Botany and Zoology will be at once seen by examining the lists of species in Chapters VIII. and IX.

The account of the Geology of the Islands is entirely by the Editor.

The third part of the book, on the History, Archaology, and Language of the Channel Islands is the exclusive work of Dr. R. G. Latham. He believes that in the doctrine he has advanced concerning the comparative unimportance of the Norse, and the comparative importance of certain other elements of the early history of

the Islands, he has suggested a series of obscure and neglected facts which, when recognised, will largely influence the opinion of future historians of Normandy and the southern parts of England, as well as of the Channel Islands. He offers this as his excuse for the insertion of a certain amount of matter and certain negative conclusions, which might otherwise seem to be irrelevant.

For the later history he has drawn freely upon various well known books. Among these, he would more especially indicate the. writings of Falle, Duncan, and Dr. Hoskins. For the antiquarian details Mr. F. C. Lukis, of Guernsey, is the principal authority.

The fourth part of the work and the Appendices have en prepared by the Editor. In the chapter on the Laws and Constitution of the Islands he has to acknowledge important assistance, chiefly from the Bailiff of Guernsey.

The picturesque illustrations must be noticed here, on account of the peculiarly favourable auspices under which they appear. Almost all the drawings were executed on wood from original sketches, taken expressly with a view to illustrate points selected by the Editor. Two artists have combined to give value to this department. Of PAUL J. NAFTEL, the name alone will be sufficient