viii Introduction. 



papers which, is perhaps well worthy of being 

 made known. When Mr. Tristram- Valentine 

 wrote "The London Sparrow" he had never 

 attempted any form of literary composition. The 

 result of his first attempt was, as may be 

 imagined, that curious burlesque of journalistic 

 commonplace which most beginners perpetrate ; 

 but, without losing heart, he rewrote that paper at 

 least six times until his work took possible shape. 

 From that moment, in the midst of the busy life 

 of a London solicitor, the duties of home and 

 friendship, he found time to work at the art of 

 writing, to revive and continue his studies in 

 scientific zoology and classification, and to blend 

 with the whole another passion of his life, that 

 for " quaint old books "as he loved to call them, 

 the effect of which may be seen by anyone who 

 cares to know how a man may become a successful 

 writer by comparing " the London Sparrow " with 

 say " Pharoe's Mouse." 



GORDON WIGAN. 



Marseilles, March, 1895. 



