270 WITH THE WOODLANDERS. 



They must rest, and they do rest where they can, on 

 their journey. If you get a map you will see if it is 

 not possible for them to do this after leaving England. 

 How long would it take swift-winged birds to cross 

 over to France, and from there to other places ? 



The various works published on birds, our own 

 British birds particularly, give more or less detailed 

 accounts concerning the killing of some of these 

 wanderers; but all rare birds, so called, do not 

 get into the hands of preservers or collectors. In 

 my young days I was in close touch with men 

 and lads that sailed the sea in all directions : 

 these were well acquainted with the birds they 

 saw on the water, and upon the distant shores 

 they visited. They had their own names for them, 

 but that did not alter the birds in the least. As 

 they were fishermen and fruit-boat men a few only 

 of the latter their chances of observation were 

 endless. Boys were rigidly excluded from the 

 company of men in our community, and all the 

 wondrous information (as it appeared to me then) 

 was given me by lads who sailed with their fathers, 

 supplemented at times by a sight of the bird-skins; 

 for all the vessels carried fowling-guns. They knew 



