[1] He later became a world-famous naturalist, photographer and folklorist, describing the wildlife and scenery of Scotland.
[2] Given cameras as a young man, his books were illustrated with photographs taken by himself and his first wife, Audrey Gordon, for many years his companion and helper in the field.
He is believed to have been the first to photograph both the snow bunting and the whooper swan at nests in Scotland.
He was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 1939 Birthday Honours, "for services to literature and natural history".
[4] He judged many piping competitions (often with Angus MacPherson and Jock MacDonald of Viewfield) including his own favourite, the Glenfinnan Gathering.