PREFACE 



THROUGHOUT a life spent much out of doors, 

 I have endeavoured to cultivate the habit of 

 observation, and now offer to my fellow-lovers 

 of birds and beasts the following nature studies 

 of Wild Life in the West Highlands. 



As an appendix I have inserted two papers 

 on the Elephant at home and on The Kea; 

 and I am glad to be able to include in the 

 latter paper, notes by an early New Zealand 

 settler on the habits of this destructive bird. 



I cordially acknowledge my obligations to 

 the editor of the Scotsman for his kindness 

 in permitting me to reprint such of these 

 papers as appeared originally in its columns. 



CHARLES HENRY ALSTON. 



