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_Illustrated with Photogravures. Large Crown 8vo._
_The Times._--"The quality which perhaps most gives its individuality to the book is distinctive of Celtic genius.... The characters ... are touched with a reality that implies genuine literary skill."
_The Standard._--"Mr Rees has taken a place which is all his own in the great succession of writers who have made Nature their theme."
_The Guardian._--"We can remember nothing in recent books on natural history which can compare with the first part of this book ... surprising insight into the life of field, and moor, and river."
_The Outlook._--"This book--we speak in deliberate superlative--is the best essay in what may be called natural history biography that we have ever read."
[Illustration: "THE BROAD RIVER, IN WHICH SHE HAD SPENT HER EARLY LIFE." (_See_ p. 50.) _Frontispiece._]
LONDON JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET 1905
"All life is seed, dropped in Time's yawning furrow, Which, with slow sprout and shoot, In the revolving world's unfathomed morrow, Will blossom and bear fruit."
The Editors of _The Standard_ have kindly permitted me to republish the contents of this book, and I tender them my thanks.
The original form of these Studies of animal life has been extensively altered, and, in some instances, the titles have been changed.
I am again greatly indebted to my brother, R. Wilkins Rees. His wide and accurate knowledge has been constantly at my disposal, and in the preparation of these Studies he has given me much indispensable advice and assistance.
Similarity in the habits of some of the animals described has made a slight similarity of treatment unavoidable in certain chapters.
I may also remark that, in unfrequented districts where beasts and birds of prey are not destroyed by gamekeepers, the hare is as much a creature of the night as is the badger or the fox.
[Transcriber's Note: Obvious typographical errors have been corrected, and standardized the hyphenations, otherwise the text has been left as the original]
Late fishing--A summer night--River voices--A master-fisher-- The old mansion--Lingering beauty--The otters' "oven"--Observant youngsters--Careful motherhood--The meadow playground--Falling leaves--A swollen river--Dabchick's oar-like wings--Mysterious proceedings--Migrating salmon--Hoar-fringed river-banks--An adventure with a sheep-dog--Slip-shod builders--Signs of spring--A change of diet--Fattening trout--The capture of a "kelt"--"The otter's bite"--Lone wanderings. 1-23