CHAPTER III. 



BIRDS. 



THE best time for studying and photographing wild 

 birds in their native haunts is undoubtedly the 

 spring. They are then tamest and most numerous, 

 and their nests, eggs, and young furnish endless 

 pleasure in finding, observing, and photographing. 



April, May, and June are the months during 

 which by far the greatest number of birds lay their 

 eggs and bring forth their young ; but many com- 

 mence before the first-named month, and a large 

 number continue to breed after the last. Of course 

 it means the spending of a good deal of time in 

 the fields, woods, moors, and marshes ; but this is 

 an essential part of a field-naturalist's training, and 

 in its exercise lies one of the chief charms of 

 natural history. Many young fellows, engaged in 

 business in London and other large towns, urge 

 that they do not get the leisure time necessary 

 to enable them to do much outdoor work. For 

 the encouragement of all such, let me mention that 

 my brother and I enjoy but a few days' holiday 

 over the "chronic fortnight" every year, and are 

 in consequence out during suitable weather in the 



