4 IN BIRD-LAND 



That part of our country embracing North 

 Middlesex and South Hertfordshire has been 

 depicted as one of the most charming tracts of 

 Old England. Charles Lamb, who thoroughly 

 explored its fields, woods, and lanes, said that it 

 was as good as Westmoreland. 



I have not attempted to describe any of the 

 great breeding-haunts of our sea-birds ; so that all 

 which is given in this book will be found more 

 specially to refer to inland breeding species. 



The chapters which follow deal with the woods ; 

 fields, hedgerows, and the streams of the region 

 mentioned, with all of which large numbers of 

 holiday-keepers must be well acquainted ; but how 

 few of those, who here find some sort of attraction 

 in their healthful rambles, really know of the many 

 beauties to be met with in these places. One 

 needs a trained eye to take in only a part of what 

 is to be seen and learned in the open country. 



In the course of this work it has been my aim to 

 picture various kinds of birds in their own homes 

 as I have been privileged to see them. Their 

 every-day habits, or what might even be called 

 their own manners and customs in their own 

 wonderfully interesting little world, are depicted 

 as I have been enabled to observe them. The 

 practically endless variation makes it no less 



