IN NATURE'S CONFIDENCE. 



vation for trifling things ; nothing unusual must escape 

 him. Birds and animals leave traces of their where- 

 abouts in many ways behind them footprints, droppings, 

 remains of food, stray feathers, tufts of fur ; these must 

 be examined ; it gets the observer into ways of woodcraft, 

 and trains him to use the resources at his command to 

 the best advantage in stealing a march on some timid 

 bird or beast. He must learn to distinguish the notes of 

 birds and the cries of animals. This is a matter of time, 

 though some people pick up such sounds directly, whilst 

 others have told me that this matter is their one great 

 drawback to outdoor observation, and the training of 

 years has been gone through with little or no success. 

 An ear for music is a great help. 



Now a word as to the line of action in the actual 

 presence of wild creatures. You must assume the most 

 perfect indifference, and, whilst making the timid creature 

 feel that you have not really seen it, your furtive glance 

 must be busy with observation. If a bird or an animal 

 is very near, its eyes will always fix on yours, and as if 

 by inspiration it will read your very thoughts. You 

 may watch them thus, until by accident your glance is 

 turned full upon them, when the spell is broken and they 

 fly or scamper hurriedly away. When making obser- 

 vations at close quarters it is absolutely necessary that 

 you keep the body perfectly motionless ; the least move- 

 ment causes alarm and flight. Birds and beasts are 



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