vi PREFACE 



marsh, swamp, or pond, and he will then understand 



what I mean. In fact, to be a field naturalist in 



England, is to be a field ornithologist, and more 



often than not — I speak from experience — a waster 



of one's time altogether. Unless you are prepared 



to be always unnaturally interested in the commonest 



matters, and not ashamed to pass as a genius by a 



never-ending barren allusion to them, be assured 



that you will often feel immensely dissatisfied with 



the way in which you have spent your day. Many 



a weary wandering, many an hour's waiting and 



waiting to see, and seeing nothing, will be yours if 



you aim at more than this — and to read a book is 



fatal. But there is the per contra^ and what that is 



I know very well. Of a few such per contras — they 



were to me, and I can only hope that some may be 



so to the reader — these " Bird Life Glimpses " are 



made up. 



EDMUND SELOUS. 



Cheltenham, May 1905. 



