PREFACE 



THIS book was nearly completed on that momentous 

 date in August, 1914, when the Great War burst 

 upon us. Early in 1915 my Publisher accepted 

 the suggestion that its pubhcation should be 

 delayed until the German challenge to the World had been 

 dealt with and disposed of. 



Since the Armistice Part II has received some revision. 

 The rest remains as written. In Jungle By-Ways I dealt 

 fully with the description and habits of the various game 

 animals of the Plains of India. I have not therefore 

 considered it necessary to repeat this matter here. The 

 sporting anecdotes and material selected from my note- 

 books, which form the greater part of the book, are designed 

 to lead up to and emphasize the necessity which exists of 

 affording an adequate protection to the Game and other Ani- 

 mals of India. That this matter, with its threefold objects 

 of maintaining the animals of the Chase, securing a revenue 

 from the economic products yielded by the Fauna of the 

 country, and preserving the Fauna as a whole, is one of the 

 first importance, is known to that small band of shikaris 

 who are both sportsmen and naturalists. A perusal of the 

 chapter dealing with the operations of the Indian unarmed 

 poacher will, of itself, bear evidence to the fact that India 

 is threatened with an irretrievable decrease in and deteriora- 

 tion of the most interesting members of its Fauna. 



To Sir John Prescott Hewett, G.C.S.I., Mrs. E. M. 

 Sparkes, and my Wife my thanks are due for the striking 

 Plates which illustrate the Diary. 



E. P. STEBBING. 



Hawthornden Castle, Midlothian. 

 March, 1920. 



