INTRODUCTORY 



APART from the birds and the fishes, the vertebrates or back- 

 boned animals of the British Islands constitute a very select 

 group. Within the historical period several former notable 

 members of that company have ceased to be represented in the 

 freedom of nature in this country, and their forms can be 

 studied only in museums and zoological gardens. Although we 

 have to regret the absence from our list of the Beaver and the 

 Wild Boar, the Ure-ox and the Short-horned Wild Ox, the 

 Brown Bear and the savage Wolf, there are still sufficient of our 

 vertebrates left to give a zest to the observations of the rambler 

 in the woodlands, over the mountains and along the quiet way- 

 sides and streams of our country. 



To observe these mammals, reptiles, and batrachians we 

 must go afoot : the bicycle or the motor-car is of use only to 

 convey us quickly out of town to appropriate localities in the 

 open country. Arrived there, quietness must be the order of 

 the day the footfall light and the voice lowered in conversa- 

 tion if there are two or more in company. The sitter will see 

 far more than the man who wants to perambulate the entire 

 wood or explore the acreage of moorland. A comfortable seat 

 having been chosen with deliberation for the view it affords of 

 a wood margin, a hillside, or stream curve, according to the 

 habits of the creatures we are hoping to see, the field-glass 

 should be brought into requisition, and every inch of the field 

 of vision carefully and repeatedly scanned. The movement of a 

 grass-blade, the trembling of a fern frond or the rustling of a 



A.L. B 



