FOREWORD 



A CONTRIBUTOR to the Daily Mail, writing on 

 " the puzzle of the racing pigeon," says : 



" Those who come to the conclusion that 

 some innate knowledge of direction is the 

 main factor simply use an expression calcu- 

 lated to hide ignorance. They remind one 

 of the ostrich with its head in the sand." 



The contents of this book may perhaps suggest 

 what that " innate knowledge " is, and whence 

 derived. 



In writing of the creatures of the Animal 

 World I have, with few exceptions, described 

 their habits and doings entirely from personal 

 observations which cover many years close 

 study in the field. 



As sportsman and naturalist I have had 

 exceptional opportunities for observing nature 

 under all sorts of conditions, and although I 

 lay no claim to deep scientific learning, I have 

 been so impressed with what I have seen that 

 I am constrained, in the interests of science, 

 to submit the following observations for what 



