vi SHORT STALKS 



I do not profess to be a distinguislied sportsman, 

 such as those who have devoted years to the pursuit of 

 great game ; nor am I competent to instruct aspirants 

 to that title. If I remember rightly, only one of my 

 trips has exceeded the limit of six weeks. My only ex- 

 cuse for writing a book on such subjects, is the keen 

 enjoyment which I take in reviving the memory of the 

 scenes described in it. 



Mr. J. E. Harting has most kindly corrected my 

 imperfect observations from the point of view of a trained 

 naturalist. 



I must acknowledoe the assistance which I have derived 

 from the art of the wood-engraver, to which my book will 

 owe any charm which it may possess. First and foremost 

 to Mr. Edward AVhymper,wdiose work is almost good enough 

 to convert a bad book into an attractive one, and in the 

 next place to Mr. Lodge, whose birds are a triumph, I am 

 grateful for the pains they have taken to carry out my 

 ideas. To Mr. W. Biscombe Gardner I am indebted for 

 two or three admirable pictures, which make me desire 

 more from the same workshop. ]\[r. G. H. Putnam has 

 procured for me some beautiful examples of the skill of 

 American artists. These have been reproduced by the 

 "half-tone" process, and it must be admitted, that for 

 certain subjects it treads hard upon the heels of the 

 older and more laborious method. 



Characteristic drawings of unftimiliar wild animals 

 are hard to get. Several of mine are from the veteran 



