PREFACE 



Upon the appearance of my book — " Briti.sli Birds' 

 Nests" — illustrated with 2:)lioto.iiTaphs taken direct 

 from Nature by my brother, many of those who 

 reviewed it in the press suggested that I should 

 Avrite an account of our adventures and observa- 

 tions whilst wandering up and down the British 

 Isles in search of subjects for our camera and 

 note-book. This I have done, and herein present 

 the result for the inspection and perusal of every- 

 body who cares to know anything about the wild 

 life of our country. In preparing the book we 

 have gleaned from many remote corners of England, 

 Scotland, Wales, and Ireland, and the different 

 groups of islands lying round about ; and whether 

 we have harvested ill or well we must, of course, 

 leave our readers to judge. But whatever may be 

 their verdict, I hope it is permissible for me to say 

 here that we have worked hard and honestly, 

 sparing no pains, danger, or expense in procuring 

 what we considered interesting or instructive. 



We have slept for nights together in empty 

 houses and old ruins, descended beetling cliffs, 

 swum to isolated rocks, waded rivers and bogs, 

 climbed lofty trees, lain in wet heather for hours 



