Prelude 



to depreciate and thus fail to utilize their own 

 more limited advantages. If there be any prac- 

 tical value in the following narrative, it lies 

 just in the fact that it is not exceptional. Any 

 observant visitor to the Park can verify for 

 himself the record here given ; nor do I appre- 

 hend that the Park itself, as compared with 

 equal areas elsewhere, is remarkably favored in 

 opportunities for this pursuit. Indeed, during 

 a large part of the year its public character and 

 exposure are plainly detrimental to the suc- 

 cess of the naturalist, and innumerable places 

 throughout the country are equally favorable, 

 or more so, for this line of study. The en- 

 couragement of this record to the beginner is 

 in the fact that it is such an ordinary one. 



The work, however, will be found to contain 

 much more than a year's individual experience ; 

 for by interweaving with the narrative the dis- 

 cussion of all the prominent aspects of bird- 

 life that pertain to field ornithology, the book 

 aims to give a much more comprehensive view 

 of the subject than could be afforded in a 

 merely personal and local chronicle. And 

 while it may not contain any new disclosures 

 for the experienced naturalist, yet in the event 

 of such perusal, it is a satisfaction to remember 



13 



