CHAPTER II 

 Local Observation 



The letters which follow speak for themselves. They are 

 instinct with the spirit of the old first-hand observers, the 

 spirit of Gilbert White. Remarks on the weather, on the 

 hay crop, on spring and autumn migrations are followed 

 by observations on particular birds, the success of experi- 

 ments with little owls, or encouragement to friends away 

 abroad. 



He was indeed the good genius of every would-be 

 ornithologist, generously giving, out of his great knowledge 

 and experience, help and information on even the smallest 

 points. Anybody who heard a new note, found a strange 

 egg, saw a doubtful species ; anybody who had a new 

 bird ' fad ' or a new bird ' cause ' came to him. To 

 " write to Lord Lilford " seemed to such persons as 

 inevitable as to others to " write to the Times." And for 

 all his shrewdness of intellect, sense of humour, impatience 

 with folly and gift of satire, ignorance, if the right 

 endeavour underlay it, was never rebuffed. Such kindness 

 brought him an increasing volume of chance correspondence ; 



