X INTRODUCTION. 



the mating and the birth of resident birds, and, if he be, like Mr. 

 Westell, something of a Botanist into the bargain, he has much to 

 engage his attention even when the birds and the beasts are absent 

 from the field of his observations. 



This is not the first time that Mr. Westell comes before the 

 reading public, and my task is lightened in no small degree by the 

 favourable reception accorded to his previous work "A Year with 

 Nature," the plan of which agrees in many particulars with that of the 

 present volume. 



His style is throughout discursive. Though he finds something 

 to say for every day in the year, be it only a passing comment on the 

 weather, wind, or temperature, he does not hesitate to digress where 

 digression pleases him. He records the regrettable shooting of a 

 Buzzard in the County, and forthwith, he tracks the bird to the local 

 Taxidermist's, and makes his visit the occasion ot a pleasant note on 

 the usual condition of Buzzards shot in this Country. 



He takes us on a fishing excursion, but says never a word about 

 the fishing, all his attention being required for the birds of the 

 waterside. 



Many of the birds which come under his observation are 

 attracted by a lump of suet hung in his garden, and this, by the way, 

 is a very excellent bait for Titmice or other small birds that one 

 desires to keep under notice. 



It may be objected (and I have every expectation that it will) 

 that many of Mr. Westell's entries are of but very trifling importance, 

 yet he was right to print his Diary as it was written Any attempt 

 at editing might impair the value of the whole, besides which a fact, 

 be it never so slight, may quite conceivably from a valuable link in 

 a chain of evidence, though in itself trite and commonplace. Thus, 

 the author devotes a large proportion of his space, here and there, to 

 the idiosyncracies of the common Sparrow; but it must in fairness 

 be remembered that the neighbourhood of St. Albans does not 

 produce Golden Eagles and Bitterns, and Mr. Westell had perforce 

 to apply his very considerable powers of observation to such species 

 as are to be found in the vicinity of his residence. 



That Birds, and Insects, and Flowers monopolise almost the 

 entire book will also perhaps form a subject of complaint with some 

 who looked, from the title, for a broader acquaintance with other 

 classes of animals. Here, too, the author may hold himself reason- 



