CHAPTEE XII. 

 RAMBLES AMONGST BIRDS. 



THE Eeverend Mr. Smith must have felt surprised at 

 the graphic manner in which Edward described the 

 birds of the district. The truth is, that Edward, 

 though he had acquired his principal knowledge from 

 observation, had also learnt something from books. 

 Mr. Smith had lent him such books as he had in his 

 library, and also referred him to the articles on 

 Natural History in the Penny Cyclopedia. Although 

 Edward did not accept his friend's advice as to the 

 study of grammar, yet he learnt enough for his pur- 

 pose. It is not so much by recollecting the rules of 

 grammar that one learns to write, as by the careful 

 reading of well-written books. After that, grammar 

 comes, as it were, by nature. Besides, if a man feels 

 keenly, he will be sure to write vividly. This was 

 precisely Edward's position. 



Mr. Smith thought it unfortunate that Edward's 

 contributions to Natural History should be confined 

 to the local newspaper. He asked permission to send 

 an account of his observations to a scientific journal. 

 Edward expressed his fears lest his contributions 

 might not be found worthy of notice. He was always 



