In 1775, he married Miss HELEN TYRIE, only daughter of the Rev. JAMES TYRIE, minister of Stromness and Sandwick. The death of this Lady (which happened in child-bed, the year after the marriage) deeply affected Mr Low, and it is believed he found consolation chiefly in that devotion to the pursuits of Natural History for which he was remarkable. During the last nineteen years of his life he continued to labour in the study of Nature, and his success was certainly creditable, considering the many disadvantageous circumstances against which, in his remote situation, he had to strive.

SIR JOSEPH BANKS, with his wonted discrimination and zeal for the promotion of science, took an opportunity of introducing Mr Low to the acquaintance of the celebrated Mr PENNANT. By Mr PENNANT's encouragement, chiefly, Mr Low engaged to draw up both a Fauna Orcadensis and a Flora Orcadensis. The former is now presented to the public: the latter has entirely disappeared. He likewise prepared for the press "A Tour through the Islands of Orkney and Shetland, containing Hints relating to their Ancient, Modern, and Natural History." He likewise undertook and executed a translation of Torfæus's History of Orkney. Mr Low died in 1795.

THE principal part of his MSS. including the Fauna, the Tour, and Translation of Torfæus, together with his Zoological Collections, (in which was a specimen of ASTERIAS Caput Medusa, taken in the Orkney Seas, and now in the Editor's possession), fell into the hands of the late eminent antiquary, Mr GEORGE PATON of Edinburgh, at whose sale, after his death, they were purchased by different individuals.

The Editor cannot conclude this advertisement without acknowledging the liberality of the Booksellers, in readily undertaking to publish this Orkney Fauna, in a form and style calculated to do credit to the unfortunate Author.

WILLIAM ELFORD LEACH.

Edinburgh, May 14, 1812.

AUTHOR'S PREFACE.

THE utility of provincial histories of all kinds is now generally acknowledged to be great, as these are certainly the materials from which a general structure, either of civil, military, or natural history, is to be raised. In no branch of history is this more apparent than in that of Nature. She must be sought and described on the spot, and her various productions investigated in their proper climates, soils, and beds. Hearsay descriptions of natural subjects are seldom to be depended on, unless taken from the most attentive observers, and even these, to be convincing, must be made on the spot, as change of climate or soil sometimes makes such alterations in the appearance of natural objects, as may deceive even adepts in the science.

The following sketch of the Natural History of the Orkney Islands was at first designed as an information of what might be remarkable here to a gentleman*, whose writings on the same subject do him honour, and are well known to the public. But by degrees swelling to some bulk, by his advice it was thrown into a systematic arrangement, and now appears as a separate work.

*THOMAS PEnnant, Esq.
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I am very sensible many excellent writers of provincial natural history, as Borlase, and others, have not inclined to be fettered with system. I likewise imagine many readers would rather see a work of this kind unconfined by it; but as the following sheets were not only designed to inform the distant reader, but likewise as a directory to persons of curiosity residing here, and who may have an opportunity to make additional observations, but who have it not in their power either to acquire other than a general knowledge of natural history, or consult the systematic writers, and for that reason are ever at a loss where to place any bird, fish, plant, &c. especially if it is in the least uncommon; if this is thoroughly considered, the objection some may have to system will vanish.

To assist the young Orkney Faunist in classing, I have followed Ray's System, and have been obliged to Mr Pennant's books for this. For the generic marks I am indebted to his Genera of Birds, Edinburgh 1773, and his British Zoology. These, I imagine, will greatly assist any person of curiosity in reducing any beast, bird, or fish to its proper class, order, and genus, as the following descriptions I hope will enable him to discover whether any species be already known in these isles.

What other helps I had from books are generally acknowledged under their proper heads.

I cannot conclude this short account of the following work, without acknowledging the generous assistance I have met

with in the prosecution of it from several of those gentlemen who of late have made such a figure in the study of nature. To Mr BANKS* (besides many other obligations), I owe my being introduced to Mr PENNANT, who, in the most friendly manner, lent all kinds of assistance necessary for carrying on such a work. To Mr GEORGE PATON, at Edinburgh (whose zeal for science, and real goodness of heart, is well known to his friends), I owe the perusal of many books, which I could not otherwise have seen, and which were of great use where the provincial names, of birds especially, wanted to be cleared and that such is the case, will be evident to any one who looks into Sir Robert Sibbald, Martin, and others, who have often multiplied names for the same thing, by taking much from hearsay, and thereby rendered their books much less useful than otherwise they might been to those that followed them.

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I owe many kind hints, on particular subjects, to several gentlemen and clergy in Orkney and Shetland, to all whom I pay this public acknowledgment, and hope what follows will encourage every man of curiosity in these isles to throw in his mite, to bring the natural history of the Orkneys as near per fection as possible: and to such I am bold to say, that if they find the study of nature as pleasing as I always did, they will be not only amply rewarded for their trouble, but their minds will be wonderfully satisfied, from thus taking a view of the various works of their great Creator. To all such as study nature in this manner, I wish all success

*Now the Right Hon. Sir JOSEPH BANKS, Bart. P. R. S.-Edit.