INTRODUCTION 



ducks, or attacking fish in the rivers, or the grouse on the 

 heather. 



For a naturaHst, whether he be a scientific dissector 

 and preserver of birds, or simply a lover and observer of 

 the habits and customs of the differenty^;'^ naturce, large 

 and small, this district is a very desirable location, as there 

 are very few birds or quadrupeds to be found in any part 

 of Great Britain, who do not visit us during the course of 

 the year, or, at any rate, are to be met with within a few 

 hours' drive. The bays and rivers attract all the migratory 

 water-fowl, while the hills, woods, and corn-lands afford 

 shelter and food to all the native wild birds and beasts.The 

 vicinity too of the coast to the wild western countries of 

 Europe is the cause of our beingoften visited by birds which 

 are not strictly natives, nor regular visitors, but are driven 

 by continued east winds from the fastnesses of the Swedish 

 and Norwegian forests and mountains. 



To the collector of stuffed birds this county affords a 

 greater variety of specimens than any other district in the 

 kingdom, whilst the excellence of the climate and the var- 

 iety of scenery make it inferior to none as a residence for 

 the unoccupied person or the sportsman. 



Having thus described that spot of the globe which 

 at present is my resting-place, I may as well add a few lines 

 to enable my reader to become acquainted with myself, 

 and that part of mybelongings which will come into quest- 

 ion in my descriptions of sporting, etc. To begin with my- 

 self, I am one of the unproductive class of the genus Homo, 

 who, having passed a few years amidst the active turmoil 

 of cities,and in placeswhere people do most delight to con- 

 xxvii 



