IN THE NEW FOREST 5 



profitable than fascinating to gather one's facts, as 

 far as possible, at first-hand from Nature herself. 



Perhaps the most desirable place in which to 

 study the ways of wild birds in their daily life is in 

 the Wood. There was a time when the extended 

 forests of these Islands were veritable paradises for 

 birds ; in the main, from the beginning to the close 

 of each succeeding century, they lived on undis- 

 turbed. Now, however, nearly all the woods in 

 many parts are private property ; but nevertheless, 

 on the borders of some of these delightful retreats 

 is still found a public path, or, what is much 

 better for a naturalist's purpose, a public footpath 

 through the leafy enclosure. 



A larger number and variety of birds is to be 

 met with about such frequented paths than is the 

 case in the more solitary depths of the wood. 

 Perhaps one of the best places for observation is in 

 the vicinity of a keeper's cottage. I noticed this 

 particularly to be so one day after tramping with 

 two companions through a large tract of the New 

 Forest. Hardly a bird crossed our path during a 

 good part of the day ; and being thirsty, we knocked 

 at the door of a cottage nestling picturesquely 

 among the trees. The good dame treated us very 

 hospitably, gave us refreshments and allowed us to 

 wander round her little garden in search of nests. 



