vi GENERAL PREFACE 



of readers the fact that, in spite of the growth 

 of cities and the reclaiming of wild and 

 waste places, there still exist in this coun- 

 try abundant opportunities for those who 

 are wise enough to study and take delight 

 in natural history. 



If therefore this Preface should some- 

 what overstep the usual limits, my apology 

 must be that the editors are desirous of 

 making quite clear the position which the 

 Haddon Hall Library will aspire to take in 

 the already extensive field of literature bear- 

 ing on English country life. They hope 

 that the Haddon Hall Library will not 

 only help to fill up such gaps as there may 

 be in the mass of practical information on 

 wild creatures and on sports, contained in 

 the books already published, but also that 

 its contributors will succeed in describing 

 their different pursuits with the true sym- 

 pathy of those who love the open air, 

 and who decline to regard sport solely 

 from the destructive point of view, whilst 



