212 OBSERVATIONS ON A PAIR OF BLACKBIRDS. 



I will conclude by saying that I believe additions to onr 

 knowledge of Natural History are more likely to be obtained 

 by those who diligently observe and watch, than by those 

 whose ideas of study are confined to making collections of 

 stuffed birds and beasts, and I cannot conclude better than by 

 quoting the words of that great apostle of patient observation 

 — Charles Darwin — on this subject: "I gave up my gun 

 more and more, and finally abandoned it altogether. I dis- 

 covered, though unconsciously and insensibly, that the plea- 

 sure of observing and reasoning was a much higher one than 

 that of skill and sport." 



