PEEFACE. 



THAT conventional diffidence of tone, which is 

 the ordinary characteristic of a preface, may con- 

 veniently be dispensed with in an introduction to 

 a seventh edition. Some half dozen years ago, 

 the revision of John Mayer's quaint, honest little 

 manual, for the professional sportsman, was en- 

 trusted to the Editor of the present volume, who 

 then almost wholly re-wrote it, and made such 

 additions as rendered it, so far as it went, com- 

 plete. The sixth edition being consumed, and 

 the changes which time always brings about having 

 affected some of its details, the Publishers resolved 

 upon having them amended, and offering the old 

 Gamekeeper a seventh time for public patronage 

 and approval. He who has once again to crave 

 allowance for his homely original, has the grateful 

 duty to perform of returning his acknowledgments^ 



