1864] Visit to Charles Water ton. 161 



CHAPTER XXII. 



VISIT TO WATERTON AND LAST YEARS IN THE 

 ISLE OF WIGHT. 



(DEC. i86i-jAN. 1864.) 



To some of the difficulties encountered in the progress of 

 the Bird Distribution paper he was indebted for a most 

 pleasurable incident his visit to Charles Waterton. 



" It is curious," he wrote to Mr. Newton (May 3rd, 

 1861), "what difficulty I have had with Yorkshire/' 

 Especially was information lacking from the western divi- 

 sion. " Would you try Waterton ? " 



Mr. Waterton's aversion to a suspected " book-natura- 

 list " nearly equalled his well-known antipathies to the 

 House of Hanover and the Brown Rat ; so a little tact 

 was always needful in approaching him ; but Mr. Newton 

 recommended the trial. 



So, after some hesitation, on November 28th, he wrote 

 to Mr. Waterton, requesting a list of birds breeding in the 

 West Riding For ten days no answer; then, just as he 

 was starting for London (December 9th), to spend a week 

 with Mr. Newbould, and to meet in conference with the 

 members of the B. O. U ., came the wished-for letter and 

 list. Any apprehensions he may have felt as to the vete- 

 ran's reception of his advances were quickly disposed of. 

 " I see (wrote Mr. Waterton) that you are fond of birds ; 

 and so am I. And I do not say too much when I tell you 

 that I have been after birds and their nests since I was 

 five years old. At this moment I can show what cannot 

 be seen at any house in England. Now, if you can be 

 spared from home, pray come and see me, and I will treat 

 you to your heart's content. We can lay our heads to- 

 gether, and I will tell you of things relative to birds and 

 to birds' nests very very interesting to you. Whilst you 

 are at breakfast you shall see Herons, Rooks, Jackdaws, 



M 



