238 MY LIFE AS A NATURALIST 



fied a bird out-of-doors. Upon asking for information on the 

 point, I have, in reply to my query, received the immediate 

 response : " Please, Sir, I sketched it at the museum ! " 



Next to the birds, prehistoric and Roman remains prove of 

 unfailing interest, especially if accompanied (as they always 

 should be) with maps, pictures, diagrams, and any other matter 

 that is likely to make the object exhibited of real interest, and easy 

 understanding. 



When out-of-doors, detailed notes are made of both animal 

 and plant life, always bearing in mind the nature of the environ- 

 ment which is being explored, and now we have commenced to 

 go one better, and have instituted a little regional survey work, 

 about which I have written in the succeeding chapter. 



These young people do not forget their powers of observation 

 even when engaged upon the cricket, football, or hockey field, 

 and I have heard a centre forward, as he dashed up the field of 

 play with the ball at his toe, suddenly exclaim : "Please, Sir, 

 what bird is that flying over," and, to-day, as we played cricket, 

 and a bird suddenly burst into song in an adjoining meadow, 

 one of the keenest young cricketers at the school stopped short, 

 as he made his way to the crease, and dramatically remarked : 

 "Hark! hark! the Lark !" 



Although, owing to force of circumstances, these school classes 

 have to more or less visit the same Nature retreats year after 

 year, I find that, with few exceptions, the children rarely tire of 

 the old haunt, and, in several instances, their memorising puts 

 older people to shame. 



My work for many years past has brought me into close touch 

 with young people. Most of my books have been written speci- 

 ally for them, and, as a result, my post-bag often brings me com- 

 munications from distant parts of the Empire. 



My kinema and other lectures have also introduced me to 

 a large number of boys and girls who do not come under my 

 direct influence in the schools that I visit, and, as evidence of 

 this, it may here be stated that, at a course of twenty-two kinema 

 lectures given by me at the Letchworth Picture Palace last 

 Winter, there was an attendance of ten thousand people, most of 

 whom were children who came regularly each Saturday after- 

 noon. I have given several courses of these lectures at Letch- 

 worth and elsewhere, and have sometimes adopted the plan of 

 offering book prizes for the best illustrated essays sent in. The 

 result in this direction has been most encouraging, and in several 



