x AUTHOKS' PREFACE 



to use the experience of others. Hence, references have been given 

 to recognised works, in the various chapters. 



Finally, it may be pointed out that the chapters contain but 

 few facts for the amusement or benefit of the amateur naturalist, 

 and we would say that throughout the book we have invariably 

 striven to avoid giving more of such information than is absolutely 

 needful. There are, at the present time, many excellent books 

 which deal with the bionomics of animals and plants, and enjoy a 

 deserved popularity. Nevertheless we are convinced that knowledge 

 derived first hand from nature herself will in the end produce in- 

 finitely greater satisfaction than anything that can be gathered from 

 books, however charmingly presented to us. We have, therefore, 

 done little more than to suggest lines of investigation which, we 

 hope, may not only be found useful themselves as part of nature- 

 study, but if conscientiously carried further prove also to be of 

 permanent scientific value. 



Our thanks are due to the Eev. Dr Warre, Headmaster of Eton, 

 for the kindly encouragement which he has given to our work ; and 

 to Mr Alfred Heneage Cocks, M.A., F.Z.S., for the opportunity 

 afforded to us of photographing his unique collection of British 

 Carnivora, and the time and trouble which he spent in our interests. 

 We are also indebted to Miss F. Davenport-Hill for her ready help : 

 to Captain H. B. Hill, R.A., and Mr Charles Sillem for many 

 suggestions, and for reading our proofs, as well as to those whose 

 assistance is acknowledged in the text. Our gratitude is lastly due 

 to Mr W. J. Webb for the care and skill which he has bestowed 

 upon the original drawings which illustrate the book : to Mr A. A. 

 Neave (of Messrs Lascelles & Company) for the ingenuity and 

 perseverance to which we owe our pictures of wild cats ; and to 

 Mr F. W. Reader for the trouble taken with the blocks. 



