INTRODUCTION 
LONDON has often been described as a ‘‘ wilderness of 
bricks and mortar,” or as a “‘ desert of houses’; but surely 
the least observant of its citizens would protest nowadays 
against such an obvious libel, and with very good reason. 
There are few spots, even in the centre of this vast 
Metropolis, where the lover of Nature may not find 
something of interest; he cannot wander far in any 
direction without having some reminder of more rural 
scenes. Not only so: now that Nature-study occupies 
such a prominent place in the educational course of the 
Council’s elementary schools, steps are being taken on 
every side to preserve and encourage that Wild Life 
which not only beautifies London, but elevates its 
citizens, and exerts a priceless nhineule upon the recep- 
tive minds of the young. A warning note, however, is 
necessary. Now that the “ schoolmaster is abroad ” 
downright earnest it cannot be too strongly aatteeoed 
upon the responsible authorities that the Nature-know- 
ledge imparted should be of a sound, reliable character. 
It is just as easy to teach facts as toimpart errors ; and the 
teacher must have a sound knowledge of the subject in 
which he essays to instruct, but I regret to say, speaking 
as far as birds are concerned, that this is only too often of 
an unreliable, and even downright fictitious, character. I 
have examined many of the text-books now in the hands 
of elementary teachers, and I must confess myself amazed 
at the quality of the information they contain. ‘This 
seems to imply that the compilers of ,these books do 
not possess the necessary knowledge to enable them to 
separate sound facts from the glaring errors only too 
palpable to the specialist. In some of them the Swift is 
spoken of as a “* Swallow,” the nests of certain common 
birds are quite erroneously described, as are the eggs, 
A I 
