BIRDS AT THEIR BEST 27 



had to be redone ; then it was put away and the 

 subject left for a few days to the " subhminal con- 

 sciousness," after which I took it up once more and 

 rewrote it all — list and analysis ; and I think it 

 now gives a fairly accurate account of the state 

 of these old impressions as they exist in memory. 



This has not been done solely for my own gratifica- 

 tion. I confess to a very strong feeling of curiosity 

 as to the mental experience on this point of other 

 field naturalists ; and as these, or some of them, 

 may have the same wish to look into their neighbours' 

 minds that I have, it may be that the example given 

 here will be followed. 



My list comprises 226 species — a large number 

 to remember when we consider that it exceeds by 

 about 16 or 18 the number of British species ; that 

 is to say, those which may truly be described as 

 belonging to these islands, without including the 

 waifs and strays and rare visitants which by a fiction 

 are described as British birds. Of the 226, the 

 sight-impressions of 10 have become indistinct, and 

 one has been completely forgotten. The sight of 

 a specimen might perhaps revive an image of this 

 lost one as it was seen, a living wild bird ; but I do 

 not know. This leaves 215, every one of which I 

 can mentally see as distinctly as I see in my mind 



