38 Travel and Equipment 
To me one of the delights of wandering about a wild country 
in quest of birds is the endless series of other attractions which 
from time to time draw one’s attention from the main work in 
hand. For it not seldom happens that what may, to me, be merely 
a side-issue is the absorbing life-study of one of my companions, 
such for example as butterflies or botany. Thus it comes about 
that on some days I find myself wielding a butterfly-net and 
equipped with boxes and_ killing- bottles on the look-out for 
specimens for my friends whilst never a day passes that one does 
not come across some rare flower or plant—a never-ending joy. 
Sometimes on such occasions I call to mind the words with which 
I commenced this book and whether it be after a successful foray 
among the birds, or some new experience amid butterflies, beetles 
or reptiles, or some fresh interest in botany, geology or aught 
else, I congratulate myself that, despite the cruel Fortune of War 
which so abruptly closed to me the profession of arms, I was 
spared at any rate to be “ reduced to birdsnesting.” 
