Correspondents and Critics. 303 



recognize a human being ; not to the extent 

 of being dangerously trusty, but not frightened 

 out of their wits when they meet me face to 

 face. 



Too much has been inferred from a limited 

 range of observation ; but this is no excuse for 

 the silly contradictions on the part of profes- 

 sionals to the assertions of amateurs. My green 

 herons are not solitary, but distinctly social ; my 

 wood-ducks do breed regularly and abundantly 

 near here and have always done so. The Eng- 

 lish snipe nests in these meadows nearly every 

 summer. King-rails are abundant in the mucky 

 meadow, and so a long chapter could be, but 

 need not be, written about such matters. My 

 earnest advice to amateurs is to depend upon 

 their own powers and turn a deaf ear to pro- 

 fessionals, except where technicalities are re- 

 quired. Not that the professional is unin- 

 formed, but in proportion as you depend upon 

 him you lose confidence in yourself. Rather 

 be a law unto yourself and only unto yourself. 

 Place your own ability in the highest place and 

 look down, not up. The professional, remember, 

 never invites you to be other than his slave ; 



