WILD SPORTS & NATURAL HISTORY OF THE HIGHLANDS Scotland Deer Stalking Fishing

Description: WILD SPORTS & NATURAL HISTORY OF THE HIGHLANDS CHARLES ST JOHN WITH INTRODUCTION AND NOTES BY THE RT. HON. SIR HERBERT MAXWELL, BT., & FIFTY ILLUSTRATIONS, THIRTY BEING REPRODUCED IN COLOUR, FROM PICTURES BY G.DENHOLM ARMOUR & EDWARD ALEXANDER T. N. FOULIS 1919 The memory of Charles St. John is as closely associated with the Findhorn and sport in the Highlands as that of William Scrope is with the Tweed and the carries of Glen Tilt, or that of Izaak Walton with the Hampshire Meadows and the River Dove, but St. John was a closer observer of nature than either of these, and he used his opportunity to the best purpose in studying the habits of animals, for some of which the naturalist may now watch in vain. The value of St. John's contributions to natural history consist in their being a plain statement of what came tinder his vigilant eye. All he wrote is essentially readable and interesting to sportsmen as well as to naturalists. As sportsman, the author's taste did not lie so much in the slaughtering of large numbers of grouse or other game, but rather in the killing of a moderate number with his single brace of dogs and in taking note at the same time of all the wild life round about him. These observations, made by a man who was essentially a sportsman as well as a naturalist, make an inimitable book of its kind, relieved continually by writing in a lighter vein. This new edition has been fully edited by Sir Herbert Maxwell, Bart., who has contributed a biographical introduction as well as full footnotes in illumination or in explanation of St. John's observations. An important feature of the edition is a large number of plates in colour, carefully planned and painted specially for the work by Edwin Alexander, R.S.A., the well-known bird and animal painter, and Mr G. Denholm Armour, whose pictures of sport need no introduction. It is a book which every sportsman should possess. CONTENTS CHAPTER I Highland Lakes—Steam-boats—Small Lochs—Wild Cats—Ravens—Dragging the Lake—The Char—Fishing at Night—Pike—Trolling large Trout on Loch Ness—Flies, Otters, etc.—Fishing with the Otter—Spawning Trout CHAPTER II Roe: Mischief done by—Fawns—Boy killed by Roe—Hunting Roe: Artifices of—Shooting Roe—Unlucky shot — Change of colour— Swimming—Cunning Roe CHAPTER III Grouse's Nest—Partridge Nest—Grouse-shooting—Marten Cat—Witch : Death of Stags — Snaring Grouse — Black Game: Battles of Hybrid Bird— Ptarmigan-shooting—Mist on the Mountain—Stag—Unsuccessful Stalking —Death of Eagle CHAPTER IV The Wild Cat: Strength of; Rencontre with—Trapping tame Cats: Destructiveness of—Poisoning vermin—Trapping vermin CHAPTER V Poaching in the Highlands—Donald—Poachers and Keepers—Bivouac in Snow —Connivance of Shepherds—Deer killed—Catching a Keeper—Poaching in the Forests—Shooting Deer by Moonlight—Ancient Poachers CHAPTER VI Salmon-fishing—Salmon ascending Fords—Fishers—Cruives—Right of Fishing —Anecdote—Salmon - leaps — History of the Salmon — Spearing Salmon —River Poaching—Angling—Fly-making—Eels—Lampreys CHAPTER VII Short-eared Owl: Habits of—Long-eared Owl—Tame Owl—White Owl— Utility of Owls—Mice—Rats : Destructiveness of— Water Rats : Food of— Killing Rats—Ratcatchers CHAPTER VIII Crossbills: Habits of; Nest—Snowy Owl—Great-eared Owl—Hoopoe—Shrike —Tawny and Snow Bunting—Lizards—Singular Pets—Toads: Utility of; Combats of—Adders—Dog and Snakes—Large Snake—Blind-Worm CHAPTER IX On the Peculiarities and Instinct of different Animals—Eggs of Birds—Nests— The Fox—Red-Deer Hind CHAPTER X The Eagle: Habits; Greediness; Anecdotes of; Killing Eagles; Trapping; Food of—The Peregrine Falcon : Manner of Hunting—Tame Falcon : Anecdotes of—Guinea-Hen and Ducks—The Osprey—The Kite : Trapping —The Buzzard : Nests and Habits of CHAPTER XI The Hen - Harrier : Destructiveness to Game; Female of; Trapping—The Sparrowhawk : Courage of; Ferocity; Nest—The Kestrel: Utility of— The Merlin : Boldness—The Hobby—Increase of Small Birds CHAPTER XII The Otter: Habits—Catching of—Shooting—Attachment to each other— Anecdotes—Fish killed by CHAPTER XIII Weasels—Ferrets : Fierceness of—Anecdotes— Food of Weasels — Manner of Hunting for Prey—The Stoat: Change of Colour ; Odour of; Food of; Their catching Fish — Polecat—The Marten Cat: Habits; Trapping; Eating'Fruit; Activity of; Different Species CHAPTER XIV Anecdotes and Instinct of Dogs—Anecdotes of Retriever—Shepherds' Dogs—Dogs and Monkey—Bulldog—Anecdotes of Shooting a Stag— Treatment of Dogs CHAPTER XV Increase of Wood-Pigeons and other Birds—Service to the Farmer of these Birds—Tame Wood-Pigeons: Food of—The Turtle-Dove—Blue Rock-Pigeons : Caves where they breed—Shooting at the Rocks near Cromarty CHAPTER XVI Wild Ducks : Edible kinds of—Breeding-places of Mallards—Change of Plumage —Shooting — Feeding-places — Half-bred Wild Ducks—Anas glacialis— Anas clangula : Habits of—Teeth of Goosander—Cormorants—Anecdotes CHAPTER XVII Birds that come in Spring—The Pewit: Pugnacity; Nests of; Cunning— Ring-Dotterel—Redshank — Oyster - Catcher : Food; Swimming of; Nest —Curlew—Redstart—Swallows, etc. CHAPTER XVIII Sheldrake : Nest; Food — Teal: Breeding-places ; Anecdotes—Landrail: Arrival of—Cuckoo—Nightjar : Habits of—Quail—Grebe : Arrival ; Account of Nest and Young—Bald Coot—Water-Hen—Water-Rail CHAPTER XIX Wild Geese: Arrival of; Different kinds of; Anecdotes of—Shooting Wild Geese — Feeding - places — Wariness — Habits — Breeding - places — Black-headed Gull—Birds that breed on the River-banks CHAPTER XX The Sandhills of Morayshire : Description of; Origin of—Foxes : Destructiveness and Cunning of; Anecdote of—Roe-hunting in the Sandhills—Anecdotes CHAPTER XXI Death of my first Stag CHAPTER XXII The Findhorn River—Excursion to Source—Deer-stalking—Shepherds—Hind and Calf—Heavy Rain—Floods—Walk to Lodge—Fine Morning—Highland Sheep—Banks of River—Cottages CHAPTER XXIII Findhorn River—Bridge of Dulsie—Beauty of Scenery—Falls of River—Old Salmon-fisher—Anglers—Heronry—Distant View—Sudden Rise of River— Mouth of River CHAPTER XXIV Migration of Birds in October—Wild Swans: Pursuit of^ Manner of getting a Shot; Two Killed—Habits of Wild Swan CHAPTER XXV The Water-Ouzel: Nest; Singular Habits; Food; Song of—Kingfisher: Rare Visits of ; Manner of Fishing—Terns : Quickness in Fishing ; Nests of CHAPTER XXVI The Muckle Hart of Benmore CHAPTER XXVII Different kinds of Gulls : Large Collections of—Breeding-places—Islands on a Loch—Eggs of Culls—Young Birds—Food and Voracity of Large Gulls : Salmon-fry killed by—Boatswain-Gull—Manner of procuring Food CHAPTER XXVIII Woodcock's Nest: Early Breeding of; Habits of, in Spring; First Arrival of; Anecdotes; Manner of carrying their Young—Habits of Snipe—Number of Jacksnipes CHAPTER XXIX Seals—Destruction to Fish and Nets—Shooting Seals in River and Sea—Habits of Seals—Anecdotes—Seal and Dog—Seal and Keeper—Catching Seals —Anecdotes . CHAPTER XXX Fox-hunting in the Highlands CHAPTER XXXI The Badger: Antiquity of; Cleanliness; Abode of; Food ; Family of—Trapping Badgers—Anecdotes—Escape of Badger—Anecdotes—Strength of—Cruelty to CHAPTER XXXII Autumn Day on the Mountain—Stags and Hinds—A Bivouac—Death of the Stag CHAPTER XXXIII Peculiarities and Instinct of different Animals—Feeding Habits—Wings of Owl—Instinct in finding Food—Ravens—Knowledge Change of Weather—Fish CHAPTER XXXIV Coursing Deer CHAPTER XXXV Tameness of Birds when Sitting CHAPTER XXXVI Variety of Game 26 x 20 cm. xxx + 472 pp + tipped in colour plates + publisher's adverts. Very good condition. Some splash marks to the top edge of the page block (see photo). Top corner of the rear board bumped. Some foxing to the endpapers. Small label of The Times Book Club on the rear pastedown and reference number on the front pastedown. A nice example of one of the better edition of this much reprinted classic. Get images that make Supersized seem small. 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