INTRODUCTION. 9 



ject. For one to become proficient in any calling, one 

 must, as we say, inherit it; but even if not inherited, the 

 passing years increase a man's ardor, and the amateur 

 speedily becomes an expert, provided his heart is in what 

 he does. These things were evident to the author when 

 he first contemplated the publication of a work of this 

 kind, and his aim and desire has been to give to the world 

 a book simple in words, pure and elevating in tone, and 

 so permeated with the invigorating recollections of days 

 spent afield, that the reader can read, then lay aside, and 

 at once recall just such scenes witnessed at some time of 

 his life. It seemed, then, that it would be far better to 

 enlist with him in the preparation of this book, men who 

 were possessed of the requisite knowledge of the habits, 

 resorts, and peculiarities of the different birds treated of, 

 a knowledge obtained, not from books, but from years of 

 actual experience in the field. 



The writers selected are all known to the sporting world, 

 and have been recognized for years as among the ablest in 

 America, or in the world, on field sports. In this book, 

 each writes of Ms bird, treating on the subject of his own 

 selection — writing of birds studied and hunted for years. 

 No one man has had the varied experience displayed in 

 this book. Every hunter of experience has a choice of 

 birds — some one bird he likes to hunt best. There is 

 occasion for regret that many of the writers were neces- 

 sarily restricted in space in preparing their articles. 

 Were they not so restricted, it would have been necessary 

 to publish two volumes, instead of one. There is a vein 

 running through the many articles in this book, which 

 commingles in free accord with the views of this writer — 

 that is, the desire for the protection of game and the 

 observance of existing game laws. 



No experienced hunter can read this book without 

 having brought to him scenes he has witnessed with 



