INTRODUCTION. 



with woods, principally of oak and birch, and intersected by a 

 dark, winding burn, full of fine trout, and the constant haunt of 

 the otter. Between this part of the county and the sea-coast is 

 a continuation of the Sandhills, interspersed with lakes, swamps, 

 and tracts of fir-wood and heather. On the whole I do not 

 know so varied or interesting a district in Great Britain, or one 

 so well adapted to the amusement and instruction of a naturalist 

 or sportsman. In the space of a morning's walk you may be 

 either in the most fertile or in the most barren spot of the coun- 

 try. In my own garden every kind of wall-fruit ripens to per- 

 fection, and yet at the distance of only two hours' walk you may 

 either be in the midst of heather and grouse, or in the sandy 

 deserts beyond the bay, where one wonders how even the rabbits 

 can find their living. 



The varieties of the soil and its productions, both animate and 

 inanimate, will, however, be best shown in the extracts from my 

 note-books, with which these pages are filled. My memoran- 

 dums, having for the most part been written down at the moment, 

 and describing anecdotes and incidents that fell under my actual 

 observation, will at all events contain correct descriptions of the 

 nature and habits of the animals and birds of the country ; 

 though, not being originally intended for publication, they are 

 not arranged in any regular order. Here and there I have 

 quoted some anecdote of animals, which I have heard from others : 

 these I can only offer as I received them, but I can safely assert 

 that I have quoted the words of those persons only upon whose 

 veracity and powers of observation I could depend. My subject,, 

 as connected both to natural history and sporting, has led mo 

 back to my former wanderings in the more northern and wilder 

 parts of the country, where 1 had great opportunities of becom- 

 ing acquainted with the habits of the wilder and rarer birds and 

 beasts, who are natives of those districts ; and the pursuit of 

 whom always had greater charms for me than the more com- 

 monplace occupations of grouse or partridge shooting. 



I hope that my readers will be indulgent enough to make allow- 

 ances for the unfinished style of these sketches, and the copious 

 use of the first person singular, which I have found it impossible 

 to avoid whilst describing the adventures which I have met with 

 in this wild country, either when toiling up the rocky heights of 



B*2 



