PREFACE 



MOST of the chapters in this book appeared 

 originally as articles in the Nineteenth Century, 

 during the years 1902-1904; and I wish to thank 

 the editor, Sir James Knowles, for his kind permis- 

 sion to reprint them after a shorter interval than 

 is usual. They have all been carefully revised, and 

 have, in many places, been recast and received large 

 additions. Of the other chapters, one, that upon 

 "The Wild Duck," was published, many years ago, 

 in Baileys Magazine. The account of the Short- 

 eared Owl appeared, as recently as August last, in 

 the shape of a separate article in the Outlook, and 

 it was followed up in October by a second article 

 in the same paper, on the birds of Norfolk. To the 

 editors both of Baileys Magazine and the Outlook, I 

 have to return my grateful acknowledgments for the 



leave which they have given me to reproduce them. 

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