PREFACE 



The appearance of another, jthe ninth, edition of St. John's 

 Highland Sports renders a few words of introduction necessary 

 for readers separated by nearly half a century from the time 

 when the book was first published. It delighted a past gener- 

 ation, and has probably done more than any book since 

 written to foster a love of out-door sport among the wilder 

 birds and animals of the British Isles. But the author pos- 

 sesses a stronger claim to the gratitude of naturalists and 

 sportsmen. He upholds the highest traditions of true sport : 

 on the one hand setting the example of refraining from all 

 that savours of taking an ungenerous advantage over these 

 wild creatures ; on the other, trying to inculcate humanity 

 towards them, believing that a fondness for observing their 

 habits confers a higher pleasure than the mere shooting of a 

 great quantity of game. 



Mr. St. John was specially qualified to write on the birds 

 and beasts of Scotland. A happy concurrence of circum- 

 stances connected with his residence in the district of Moray 

 gave him unrivalled opportunities of observing its quadrupeds, 

 while he has paid even greater attention to the birds of the 

 country. He says (Preface to Natural History and Sport in 

 Moray, p. ix.) : '' I have taken the nests of all the birds which 

 breed in Scotland, without, I believe, an exception, I have 



