PREFACE TO THE SEVENTH 

 EDITION 



THE issue of the SEVENTH EDITION, revised, rewritten, 

 and enlarged by several new articles, is gratifying proof 

 that the interest in sport still continues, notwithstanding 

 the changed times in which we live. 



Originally intended for gamekeepers, it must be 

 confessed the success of the book is not due to their 

 patronage ; indeed, excepting in the case of a few, it 

 has, I fear, incurred the displeasure of the whole pro- 

 fession. The average Scotch gamekeeper dislikes 

 books, and thinks that he has nothing to learn from 

 them, and although many masters have bought the 

 book, and made a present of it to their keepers, and in 

 many instances placed it on the Bothy Library, it has 

 not evoked any enthusiasm. My outspoken language, 

 about which there can be no mistake, has in many cases 

 given great oftence, but, much as I regret this, I have 

 nothing to withdraw or retract. On the subject of 

 Game Preserving much has been learned since the issue 

 of the First Edition, and opinions have changed on 



