PREFACE 



It must ever be the case that those birds Hving their 

 quiet lives on the remote and inaccessible hillsides take 

 from their surroundings a certain charm and distinction. 



It is this charm which renders the studying of these 

 mountain dwellers a pursuit of exceptional interest. 

 Many difficulties are set in the way : the hills do not 

 yield the store of their knowledge easily ; it is only to him 

 who knows them in storm as in fine weather, and in the 

 dead of winter as well as during long days of June sun- 

 light, that they give a measure of their wisdom. The 

 difficulty of investigating bird life on the highest hills 

 is largely due to the absence of any suitable base in their 

 vicinity ; thus I would strongly advise any ornithologist 

 who decides on studying the habits of hill birds to procure 

 a good strong tent, which at the same time is not too 

 heavy to be carried to the high corries. 



At elevations of between three and four thousand feet 

 the main inconvenience to the camper is the low tempera- 

 tures which are experienced after sunset, and a plentiful 

 supply of rugs are a necessity if a night's rest is sought for. 



During the months of June and July brilliant weather 

 frequently prevails on the high tops, and even at mid- 

 night the afterglow in the north is sufficiently strong 

 to render impossible the changing of photographic plates 

 unless the operator first covers himself with rugs. 



These days of early summer, spent at the homes of the 

 Snow Bunting and the Ptarmigan, are retained in the 

 mind's eye for long. 



