PREFACE. xi 



to know that he has been made more comfortable in 

 his declining years by the unsought kindnesses of 

 his friends. He is still able to follow, though 

 in a more quiet manner, his old and fascinating 

 pursuits. He has made investigations into the 

 "Reptiles of Banffshire," and read a paper on the 

 subject to the Banff Field Club. He related to his 

 hearers his stories about the catching of adders, 

 heather -asks, sand -lizards, and efts, in his old and 

 amusing manner. Another of his papers was on 

 The Salmon : who or what are its worst enemies ? 

 a subject well worthy the attention of the Commis- 

 sioners for the Preservation of Fish. Another was On 

 the Protection of Wild Birds. It was an appeal to 

 humanity against wholesale bird -slaughtering. He 

 not only appealed for birds, but for birds' nests the 

 homes of the birds which any one might tear down 

 irrespective of the law. 



" It vexes me to the core," he said, " that many of our 

 most delightful songsters, besides the heavenly lark, have 

 been rapidly disappearing of late years. Many of our most 

 useful birds, too, are becoming scarcer and scarcer every year. 

 With reference to our song-birds, how can it be other- 

 wise ? Hordes of men go about the country, almost the 

 whole year round, and net and trap all the birds of this class 

 they can. In summer they make it a rule to rob all their 



