LETTER XVIII 



Journey to Maryborough Birds in the Kennet Valley Herons 

 Gulls -Starlings infested with Vermin Otter Jack devoured 

 by Otter Otter Hounds The Bee-bird The Resurrection 

 Plant Walnut Trees : their Age Waterloo Heroes. 



^rd February 1888. 



I WAS reminded of you, my dear Marco, 

 a short time back when I took my boy to 

 Marlborough in the train through the Kennet 

 Valley ; it recalled pleasant memories of our 

 visit years ago to Ramsbury. The great 

 number of birds of all sorts David and I saw 

 from the carriage windows still further re- 

 minded me of you, and I felt ashamed at 

 having so long neglected my correspondence 

 with my old friend. The day we travelled 

 was keen and frosty ; the river-meadows and 

 marshlands alongside the railway swarmed 



