Prefa 



ace 



THE fact that this little volume is one of a 

 series of practical country hand-books 

 proclaims its object. Its endeavour is to 

 enable the reader to recognise some of 

 the common birds of the country-side, and if it 

 succeeds in this, it will have achieved much. 

 Knowledge of a few species is sure to kindle a 

 love of birdkind, and after that a more extensive 

 knowledge is but a question of time. The writer 

 would rather direct the reader from the book to 

 the birds themselves, for he knows that the lessons 

 learned at first hand from Nature are of far more 

 worth than quantities of book knowledge. It is 

 no small thing to have the senses of seeing and 

 hearing quickened and the powers of observation 

 increased, yet this is what Nature is ever ready to 

 do for those who love and study her. 



"And Nature the Old Nurse took 



The child upon her knee, 

 Saying, here is a story book, 



Thy father hath written for thee. 



"And whenever the way was long, 



Or his heart began to fail, 

 She would sing a more wonderful song, 

 Or tell a more wonderful tale." 



One man may take a walk and scarcely see a 

 bird ; another, with him, sees or hears, perhaps, 



tvi956 v 17 



