WILD LIFE AT THE LAND'S END: Observations of the habits and haunts of the fox, badger, otter, seal, hare, and of their pursuers in Cornwall. By J.C. Tregarthen.

(1904) 1922 reprint. 8vo (141 x 203mm). Ppxii,236,viii[ads]. B/w photograph plates. Blue cloth, spine titled in gilt, upper board title and motif blind-stamped.

The author describes his sporting activites in Penwith a couple of decades earlier than the date of first publication, "What be et, Jim?" ..."Caan't saay, I'm sure. Ef et happened when I wore a boay I should ha' ben afeered that Boney had landed." The narrative is very lightly novelised to make it all hang together, but it has the ring of reportage about it. Includes two dozen photograph plates, of places and people in the stories. Nearly all the plates are by R.H. Preston of Penzance, and Gibson and Sons, then of Penzance. Chapters include: The earthstopper under the stars; The fox-hunt; Fox-hunting, as it was in the days of Queen Bess (quoted from Carew's Survey of Cornwall, 1565); The otter - tracking the wily varmint; The otter - the Earthstopper's vigil; The otter - at the lake; The otter - the hunt; The white badger of Cairn Kenidzhek - the Earthstopper in doubt; The white badger of Cairn Kenidzhek - the Earthstopper angry; The white badger of Cairn Kenidzhek - the badger's capture and escape; the hare - life story of the Jack of Bartinney; The hare - Diggory Strout and Farmer Pendre; The hare - the course; A midnight visit to the seal-caves; Reminiscences of boyhood's days; Bass fishing at the Land's End; Ned's tale of the birds. In addition to providing direct inspiration for Henry Williamson, of Tarka the Otter, J.C. Tregarthen was one of the first Bards of the Cornish Gorseth, son of Captain Tregarthen of Tregarthen's Hotel, Scilly, and literary protege of Miss Marie Corelli.