7 



think, retain their flight feathers till the following year, merely acquiring, by a partial moult, a 

 new and less spotted set of body feathers, which resemble those of the old birds, rendering it 

 in autumn not easy to distinguish the old from the young birds of such migratory kinds as 

 the fieldfare and redwing by the time they arrive on our shores, previous to the winter. 



Of all the various branches of Nature's works, I like birds the best ; and to like one branch in 

 particular is almost enough for one person to attend to in a lifetime. Though the brilliant denizens 

 of the South American Continent and the Malay Islands are most beautiful, and if one lived 

 amongst them one would venerate them for their loveliness ; yet one cannot have them to live 

 amongst us in their natural state, and we have to be satisfied with their comparatively plain 

 representatives here, but which are, on the whole, of more consequence to us, being, many of 

 them, our familiar friends and companions at least they would be if we would only let them 

 alone and encourage them. 



Even the savages, in all parts of the world, seem to admire the brilliancy of birds' 

 feathers, and use them as ornaments; and, although they probably kill all the birds they can for personal 

 adornment, or for barter, there is little likelihood of their numbers being diminished, as the 

 jungles they generally inhabit are so impenetrable. 



How interesting and amusing it is to watch the habits of some of our common birds. I 

 have sometimes, in autumn, taken advantage of some cover and crept up to a flock of peewits, 

 and got almost into the middle of the flock, and, resting against a hillock, I have observed them with 

 the greatest pleasure. When you get close to them it is simply delightful to watch their graceful 

 actions ; some of the flock constantly raising their wings, in such a slow quiet manner, and flying 



