In the Neighbourhood of Salisbury. 209 



to be met with on our downs, and in our parishes ; and it luay also 

 induce some of our lovers of ornithology to extend their researches 

 and keep a sharper look out, especially during the migratory months 

 of October and May, for some of those wanderers that may be 

 expected at such times to visit us. 



With many thanks to all those who have kindly assisted me in 

 compiling this and the previous papers I must now wish my readers 

 farewell, and if it has given any of them the same pleasure in the 

 reading as it has given me in the writing I shall feel my efforts 

 have in no wise been thrown away, I am sure that there is not a 

 more innocent or truer recreation than researches in the field of 

 natural history, or one that more entirely refreshes the mind for 

 more serious work without too greatly absorbing it. It adds, 

 besides, tenfold interest to any ordinai-y walk, and always affords 

 some definite object to an expedition, which might otherwise end in 

 that most uninteresting of all things, a simple " constitutional." 

 Some people may smile at the idea of what they consider the 

 childishness of an elderly man chasing, a bird, or running after a 

 butterfly; but, my friends, there are worse things to run after 

 than those, and if you can find a man of hale old age still in- 

 terested in such pursuits, you will also find, in nine cases out of ten 

 (provided always he is not a bore), that such- a one is a good fellow, 

 and an interesting companion, and all I can say is, that I wish 

 there were more of them. Yea ! many a man would be saved from 

 anxious and carking care, and from endeavouring to compass what 

 vsre are told is an impossibility, i.e., the securing both worlds at one 

 and the same time, if they would not pass by, as beneath their 

 notice, but " behold " the fowls of the air ! " They sow not, neither 

 do they reap, nor gather into barns, yet our Heavenly Father feedeth 

 them." Would not this consideration lead them to consider in a 

 right light the comforting and exalting truth, " Are ye not much 

 better than they ? " 



