ADVENTURES AMONG BIRDS 



CHAPTER I 

 the book: an apology 



A preliminary warning — Many books about a few birds — People 

 who discover well-known birds — An excuse for the multi- 

 plicity of bird-books — Universal delight in wild birds — 

 Interview with a county councillor — A gold-crest's visit to 

 a hospital — A rascal's blessing — Incident of the dying 

 Garibaldi and a bird. 



THE book-buyer in search of something to 

 read before making his purchase as a rule 

 opens a book and glances at a few lines on 

 the first page, just to get the flavour of it and find 

 out whether or not it suits his palate. The title, we 

 must presume, has already attracted him as indi- 

 cating a subject which interests him. This habit of 

 his gives me the opportunity of warning him at the 

 very outset that he will find here no adventures of a 

 wild-fowler, if that's what he is seeking; no thrilling 

 records of long nights passed in a punt, with a north 

 wind blowing and freezing him to the marrow in spite 

 of his thick woollen clothing and long boots and oil- 

 skins, and the glorious conclusion of the adventure 

 when he happily succeeds in sending a thousand 

 pellets of burning lead into an innumerable multitude 

 of mallard, widgeon, teal, pochard, and pintail; 

 how for several successive winters he repeated the 



A I 



