10 



COUNTRY RAMBLES. 



hobby. The first act almost of the youngster is to plunder and 

 pillage a bird's nest, catch a Butterfly or a Moth and stick a pin 

 through if, to pull down the tree branches and the hedgerows, and 

 generally to destroy, rather than to appreciate, and take an interest 

 in, Nature. 



Boys will be boys the whole world over, but to British boys I now 

 appeal to throw off the mantle of destruction and put on the cloak of 

 protection; to throw away the pistol, the gun, the sling, and the 

 catapult, and substitute a good field glass, an interesting hobby, and 

 a clear brain. 



The pleasures and profits to be derived are inestimable, the 

 information imparted helps one considerably to understand the laws of 

 Nature, and to appreciate the things around us. Our spare time may 



be profitably filled up 

 in field rambles, taking 

 notice of any and every 

 thing which crosses the 

 path, and there are 

 sights and sounds crop- 

 ping up at every turn. 

 Right throughout the 

 year from January to 

 December bird and 

 insect life, trees, wild 

 flowers, fish, and so on 

 are to be seen or heard, 

 and there is never a 

 dull moment to the 

 true Nature lover. 

 Observe everything 

 carefully and minutely, 



find out, if possible, by practical experience anything which puzzles 

 you, read all you can which deals with, or in any way bears upon, your 

 hobby, and learn to cultivate the art of writing for the benefit of 

 others, and for your own satisfaction. Make no observation with 

 regard to any creature, tree, flower, or other component part of Nature 

 which you cannot prove, but do not be beyond asking for information 

 whenever occasion arises. Be consistent and true, painstaking, and 

 lasting. Do not take up the study of Nature-or in fact any study 

 if you do not intend to stick to it. Do not aspire to climb the ladder 

 of fame all at once; start on the lowest rung, and climb steadily 



BLACKBIRD. 



