The Bullfinch 



CHAPTER IV 

 Great Bird Gatherings 



This chapter is nothing but a digression, suggested by 

 what goes before; for the subject touched on in the 

 account of the wild geese on the East Coast is one which 

 stirs the naturaHst and bird-lover deeply — the delight of 

 witnessing immense congregations of birds, especially 

 those of large size and noble appearance. The remem- 

 brance of such scenes is a joy for ever, in many instances 

 clouded by the thought that the sight which it is a happi- 

 ness to recall will be witnessed no more. 



Some years ago the distinguished naturalist and 

 palaeontologist, Mr. Richard Lydekker, went out to 

 Buenos Ayres to look over and arrange the collection 

 of tertiary fossils in the famous La Plata Museum. He 

 had read my Naturalist in La Plata with industrious 

 zeal, quoting from it in rather a wholesale way when 



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