PREFACE 



THE following papers, written from time to 

 time as health permitted, embody the obser- 

 vations and studies of one to whom the 

 " life and conversation " of birds afford ever 

 fresh interests. Many of the papers have 

 already appeared in Chambers 's Journal, the 

 Windsor Magazine, Scottish Country Life or 

 the Scotsman, and the author desires to 

 thank .the editors of these periodicals for 

 permitting her to reprint them. She desires 

 also to acknowledge most gratefully the 

 Rev. H. N. Bonar's permission to illustrate 

 her book with some of his admirable photo- 

 graphs of bird life. To Mr. Eagle Clarke, of 

 the Royal Scottish Museum, her thanks are 

 due for much valuable help, and to Mr. 

 Henry Johnston for going over the proof- 

 sheets for her. 



GLADYS ESME GRAHAM MURRAY 



STENTON, DUNKELD 

 January 1915 



