A WORD AT THE START, 



IK LIEU OF A PREFACE. 



WHEN I happen out for a stroll, the difficulty that 

 besets me is not what to seek for to ramble without an 

 object is an abomination but what to choose of the end- 

 less variety of objects worthy of attention. I do not like 

 to determine this after I have started, but prefer saying 

 to myself, " I will watch the birds to-day," or, " I will 

 hunt up the meadow-mice." To do this, at once gives 

 an additional interest to a contemplated ramble; and, 

 in all my experience, I have never yet failed to find some 

 trace, at least, of that object to observe which I took 

 the walk. 



Avoid the highways when you take a walk. Even if 

 well shaded, they are abandoned now to the pestiferous 

 English sparrows ; and if you are really intent on a good 

 tramp of a few miles, do not turn aside for a stretch of 

 swamp. If you have any fear of wet feet, be properly 

 shod before starting. It too often happens that the 

 sights best worth seeing come to you when in a bit of 

 wet meadow. The swamp-sparrows, that are such sweet 

 songsters ; the marsh-wrens and the king^rails and soras 

 will not come to the dry ground at the e<Jge of the mead- 



