[From Bird-Life in the Isle of Man]

PREFACE

It may be true that "When Constabulary Duty's to be done," "a Policeman's life is not a happy one"; but it is clear from the contents of this volume that a Chief Constable with a hobby — especially if that hobby be an open-air affair — can mitigate the rigours of his profession without detriment to the efficiency ef his administration. After all, human nature is very similar everywhere. It is emphatically true in India that the district officer who has a taste for riding and sport not only comes in closer contact with the people, learns their dialect better, and becomes a more efficient interpreter as between government and governed than does his (perhaps) far more able, but more studious, confrére, but he is also better fitted to establish happier and more friendly relation all round.

And that is what has happened here in the Isle of Man. Colonel Madoc has not only himself found out this truth, but has imparted it, with the most admirable results to the community, to the men under his command. There must be some subtle influence emanating from association with bird-life which assuages and softens human relations. Nowhere, in my experience, are the members of the police force (and Colonel Madoc has succeeded in enrolling a magnificent body of men) on terms of such close and abiding friendship with the populace as they are here. And the mutual reactions resulting from this bird influence are entirely beneficial.

I am, I fear, as ignorant as most people on the subject of bird-life; but this record of the result of observation, spread over many years, set down without any attempt at formality or doctrinaire authority, must, I think, appeal not only to those who have made bird-life a special study, but also to others who, like myself, have merely an ignorant love of our songsters. To the former class, the record will be of value as giving particulars informative of the habits of our less-known visitors; while, to the latter, these notes will be a stimulus to more intelligent appreciation and observation.

Save where the gamekeeper (often mistakenly) regards particular specimens as his enemy, and the sportsman preserves only to _ kill, the British Isles are as great a paradise for birds as it is for horses and for dogs. In no other part of the world is there a comparable galaxy of song-birds; and_ therefore nowhere else is there similar scope for interest in their study. And perhaps no class of official has such opportunities of developing an interest in the matter as our rural police. Chief Constables, elsewhere, please take note.

CLAUDE H. HILL.

GOVERNMENT HOUSE
ISLE OF MAN