Preface 



IX 



last few years, which has accomplished considerable 

 in the way of protection, especially among the birds. 

 This has been brought about largely through the 

 influences of clubs and societies that have been formed 

 for the purpose of studying wild life. 



I am under obligations to various landowners 

 for the privilege of tramping about their fields, and 

 in many instances for valuable assistance. To the 

 boys, also, who have helped me in so many ways 

 I extend sincere thanks; for without them some of 

 my best pictures would never have been possible. I 

 am under special obligations to Miss CaroHne E, 

 Alden for literary criticism and reviewing, and to 

 Mr. Edward H. Dutcher for many valuable sug- 

 gestions as to text and arrangement. 



Thanks are due the proprietors of St. Nicholas 

 and Field and Stream for permission to republish 

 articles which have appeared in those magazines. 



East Orange, N. J., 

 March, 1905. 



