Birds. 1597 



collecting facts in Natural History, and for becoming intimate with 

 the habits of many of our wild birds and quadrupeds. From my ear- 

 liest childhood I have been more addicted to the investigation of the 

 habits and manners of every kind of living animal than to any more 

 useful avocation, and have, in consequence, made myself tolerably 

 well acquainted with the domestic economy of most of our Britsh 

 ferae natures, from the field-mouse and wheat-ear, which I stalked and 

 trapped in the plains and downs of Wiltshire during my boyhoood, 

 to the red deer and eagle, whose territory I have invaded in later years 

 on the mountains of Scotland. My present abode in Morayshire is 

 surrounded by as great a variety of beautiful scenery as can be found 

 in any district of Britain ; and no part of the country can produce a 

 greater variety of objects of interest, either to the naturalist or to the 

 lover of the picturesque." Then follows an account of " the rapid and 

 glorious Findhorn, the very perfection of a Highland river," — the 

 forest of Darnaway, — the bay of Kinloss, " always a great resort of 

 water-fowl of all kinds from the swan to the teal, and also of innu- 

 merable waders of every species," — " that most extraordinary and pe- 

 culiar range of country called the Sand-hills of Moray, formed of the 

 purest sand, with scarcely any herbage, excepting here and there 

 patches of bent or broom, which are inhabited by hares, rabbits, and 

 foxes," — " the fertile plains of Moray," — " the wide extending woods 

 of Altyre, abounding with roe and game," — and " the extensive range 

 of the most excellent grouse-shooting country which reaches as far as 

 the Spey. On the whole, I do not know so varied or interesting a 

 district in Britain, or one so well adapted to the amusement and in- 

 struction of a naturalist or sportsman. In the space of a morning's 

 walk, you may either be in the most fertile, or in the most barren spot 

 of the country. In my own garden every kind of wall-fruit ripens to 

 perfection, and yet at the distance of only two hours' walk you may 

 be either in the midst of heather and grouse, or in the sandy deserts 

 beyond the bay, where one wonders how even the rabbits can find 

 their living." 



Mr. St. John lives in a Scottish Walton-hall. He has delight in 

 collecting round him " all living animals, and watching their habits 

 and instincts ; my abode is in short a miniature menagerie. My dogs 

 learn to respect the persons of domesticated wild animals of all kinds, 

 and my pointers live in amity with tame partridges and pheasants, and 

 my terriers and beagles strike up friendship with the animals of dif- 

 ferent kinds whose capture they have assisted in, and with whose 

 relatives they are ready to wage war to the death." 



