BIRDS BY 

 LAND & SEA 



SEPTEMBER 



KNOWLEDGE, after all, is a wonder-child ; 

 and, though it have Reason for its father 

 and Fact for its mother, in its infancy the 

 parental image is not readily discernible. 



The knowledge of birds, as of other things, is of 

 two kinds the right kind, which is profitable ; the 

 other, which is amusing. 



I call well to mind the particular September 

 afternoon when, having become so fascinated by a 

 book upon birds' eggs I had purchased for my 

 small son that I was tempted seriously to retain it 

 for myself, I set out for the first time to observe 

 birds, and, with small regard for the advanced season 

 of the year, haply to light upon some of the 

 eggs whose peculiarities I had been conning. I had 

 often " seen " birds, and could have distinguished a 

 hawk from a gosling ; but the fact that I was then 



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