185?] How to see the Grasshopper- Warbler. 89 



mine. I sat down and revelled in his beauty. In the 

 height of plumage a glorious capture!" 



It will appear with sufficient plainness in the course of 

 this memoir that, with all his keen delight in the obtaining 

 of a rare specimen the sportsman's delight in the chase, 

 as well as the naturalist's joy in the prize he had a 

 passionate horror of wanton bird-slaughter. The persecu- 

 tion by " cockney-sportsmen" and "tourist egg-stealers" 

 of decreasing or local resident species of the Peregrine, 

 the Chough, the Shag, the Puffin annually awakened his 

 indignation ; that of the Falcon in particular he protested 

 against on almost every opportunity. Every movement 

 for the protection of our rarer species possessed his sym- 

 pathy. But the collection of specimens he always held 

 to be indispensable to a student of nature. 



Observations of the habits of birds often gave him as 

 much satisfaction as success with his gun, and whether 

 botanizing by day, or moth-hunting by. night, his eyes 

 were open for facts ornithological. One July evening, 

 "We had been out sugaring the trees for Noctuae, and 

 finding but scanty sport at the bait, we turned attention to 

 the cricket-like or whirring note of some creature that 

 seemed to remain quite unscared close under our feet ; and 

 for want of something to do, we set about trying to discover 

 his whereabouts. It was not very easy to make one's 

 way through the brambles and long grass, but certainly 

 our little friend took small notice of our approach, and 

 kept up his serenade till we felt quite sure he must be in a 

 particular bush ; but after peering most anxiously through 

 and through we could find no trace of the performer. 

 However, the bush was duly stirred, and certainly a small 

 bird flew out ; and presently the note recommenced among 

 some brambles a iew yards further off; but here it was 

 impossible to follow. However, on again passing the 

 spot in another half-hour (this would be about 10 o'clock), 

 there was still the same chirring note, and in the iden- 

 tical bush, too. So this time we determined to go about 

 it very cautiously, and without noise stole up, one on each 

 side, so as to hem in the little chirper. This time he kept 

 singing till we were within a yard of his retreat, and then, 



