Birds of Oregon and Washington 283 



life is the end here sought. John Burroughs, one 

 of the greatest nature-lovers and prose-poets of 

 any age, said in substance to the author while 

 he was preparing this edition of this book : If 

 only you can lead them (the pupils and also the 

 readers of this book) to enjoy and sympathise 

 with the birds ! 



A word upon what may seem to some a defi- 

 ciency in the book, in that not more is said about 

 the habits of the several birds described. Not 

 only has consideration of the size of the book, 

 which must be kept small enough for field use, 

 prevented fuller statement, but the end of a true 

 and living bird-interest is served by leaving the 

 pupil to find out for himself what more can be 

 known about each variety of the birds about his 

 home. This is the method teachers employ in 

 all other studies. They would stimulate their 

 pupils to find their own way into any subject of 

 study, giving them only " a start." 



The presence of more half-tone pictures of 

 the species of the birds noted, would not, to the 

 author's mind, be altogether an advantage. And 

 he is sure that colored plates would be a positive 



