8 PREFACE. 



Religious Tract Society had already issued a sixpenny 

 publication of that name. Perhaps, however, " Field 

 and Fern" has a more strictly Scottish application. 

 The division of it into two independent parts, 

 "North" and "South" of the Frith of Forth, seemed 

 most natural, and calculated to meet the wishes of 

 such Highland and Lowland purchasers as might 

 have no interest in each other's stock lore. 



As readers never by any chance look at a table 

 of errata, I have adopted a totally new plan, viz., 

 correcting any little thing that specially called for it 

 in a foot-note to the text, when I saw an opening in 

 the course of the work. Six or seven, notes of the 

 kind will be found. I may also add that I have 

 used the name of the parish " Coultar" when I 

 ought to have said " Culterallers," that " thin 

 for plantations" in reference to the Renfrewshire 

 country should be "thin fir plantations," and that 

 "Edinburgh town" has crept in for "Edinburgh 

 toun." 



As regards the portraits, I have chosen Mr. Hugh 

 Watson, Professor Dick, Mr. Nightingale, and the 

 late Duke of Richmond as representatives of the 

 cattle, horse, greyhound, and sheep interests. Mr. 

 Gourlay Steel], R.S.A., has kindly presented me 

 with the head of " Duntroon/' one of those High- 

 land chieftains of the heather, which will long sur- 

 vive their sirloins on his canvas. The Master of the 



