T 



PREFACE 



HE articles in this volume were selected 

 JL some years ago by the author for re-issue 

 in book form, and were partially corrected by 

 him. Their publication was held over during 

 the war, and owing to the author's death they 

 still lacked his final revision. As Mr. Rees's 

 literary executor I have prepared them for the 

 press, and prefixed a short memoir. 



The bulk of the book appeared originally in 

 Tlie Standard newspaper. I wish to thank the 

 editor of Chamhers' Joilrnal for permission to 

 reprint, in revised form, " Bird Life in a Western 

 Valley.'' The chapter on the Bittern, called 

 " A Moorland Sanctuary," appeared first in the 

 Monthly Review (Murray). The portrait is repro- 

 duced by permission of Messrs. J. Russell & Sons. 



There still remains a considerable amount of 

 Mr. Rees's work that seems worthy to receive 

 a more permanent form. I trust the reception 

 of this volume will justify the issue of another, 

 perhaps more miscellaneous, selection. 



J. K. HUDSON. 



