BEGINNING THE STUDY 



WHY should not people ride natural history 

 hobbies as well as other kinds of hobbies? 

 Almost all persons become interested in some 

 special study, recreation, or pastime, and their choice is 

 not always as profitable as the selection of a .specific 

 branch of .nature lore would be. , The writer confesses 

 that he would rather pursue a bright, lilting bird of 

 butterfly than a bounding tennis-ball, or football, and he 

 finds the chase every whit as exciting and the knowl- 

 edge gained of more permanent value ; and he says 

 this without in anywise intending to discountenance 

 healthful games and athletic exercises, , but simply to 

 express a preference. What could be more fascinating, 

 for instance, than for a young person or an older 

 person,. either, for that matter to spend his leisure in 

 trying to identify every bird in his neighborhood? As 

 a result of such an attempt he would doubtless become 

 so interested in the. study of his bird neighbors .that he 

 would resolve to learn all he could about their charming 

 habits, 



How may one study the birds: intelligently ? That is 

 a question every beginner will want/to have answered. 



