Preface 
THis book is an attempt to describe by 
camera and pen the recent rambles of two 
friends, during the months of May and June, 
in search of birds and their nests for the 
purpose of photographing them, “in and 
near London,” that is, between a radius of 
six and sixteen miles from the heart of the 
city, and chiefly in the northern district. 
We have found these excursions most inter- 
esting, useful, and enjoyable, for, tap if 
ever so feebly the golden mine of Nature’s 
store, and it will yield you back an immense 
wealth of true soul-uplifting happiness and joy. 
All know that birds live and move and 
have their being in the fields and woods, but 
some of them, even the common ones, may 
have never been seen or perhaps heard by 
some of us, and we may know nothing about 
their most interesting habits and peculiarities. 
But the guest is open to all, and their busy 
lives of industry and care will teach us 
1X 
