PREFACE 



The eight chapters which arc contained in this book have been adapted 

 from a series of eight popular lectures delivered to the Ashmolean Natural 

 History Society of Oxfordshire, between the years 1902 and 1916, by my 

 friend, the late Fergus Menteith Ogilvie. 



When Mr. Ogilvie died on 17th January, 1918, I was asked to write 

 an obituary notice, with special reference to his work as an ornithologist ; 

 and I found, in collecting material for this, that, although he was, as I well 

 knew, a wide and original observer and an excellent authority, he had pub- 

 lished very little. I could only discover a few short papers and notes imder 

 his name in various periodicals. It seemed to me very regrettable that so 

 able and enthusiastic a student of bird-life should have passed away leaving 

 so little from the great store of knowledge which he had acquired, in a fomi 

 accessible to the public. Being aware of this series of lectures, several of 

 which I had attended, I suggested to his widow that they might with advantage 

 be issued in book form. To this, Mrs. Ogilvie readily assented, and I under- 

 took to edit the volume as a slight tribute to my friend's memory. This 

 has proved by no means an easy task, especially to one whose time and whose 

 ornithological knowledge are limited, since a very considerable amount of 

 emendation was necessary, the lectures not having been designed for 

 publication. 



It has, nevertheless, throughout, been my endeavour, in adapting the 

 lectures for publication, only to make such alterations and corrections as 

 seemed absolutely necessary, and to retain, as far as possible, the author's 

 own words and individuality. I have added footnotes where further 

 explanation seemed called for, and, as far as time allowed, I have verified 

 and corrected quotations from other writers. 



The book will, I trust, prove interesting and instructive to more than 

 one class of reader. Naturalists and others who derive pleasure from the study 

 of British birds, their habits and economy, will find in its pages mahy shrewd 

 and original remarks, based upon careful observations in the field, by one 

 of the keenest and most cautious of ornithologists. Ogilvie 's field-work 

 was characterized by an enthusiasm which ever led him on, and which caused 

 him to spare no trouble and expense in the pursuit of his hobby. At the same 

 time, his enthusiasm was governed and restrained by that invaluable 

 " escapement " caution, which made him hesitate to accept deductions based 

 upon insufficient evidence. His desire was, as far as possible, to investigate 

 the facts for himself, and thoroughly. His scientific training stood him in 

 good stead, and he worked on scientific lines. 



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