74 



IN WINTER. 



cally tired. What interested us in the morning 

 falls flat in the evening ; the mingled voices of 

 many birds roused enthusiasm at sunrise, and 

 proved irritating at sunset. It was so to-day. My 

 one thought was to reach home, but not without 

 lazily thinking, as I retraced my steps. I dis- 

 cussed with myself, as often before, that impor- 

 tant question how to see. Then, again, I have 

 often been asked the same question by various 

 people. On one occasion, I replied, " With your 

 wits as well as your eyes." But this does not 

 cover the ground. After all, how is a person 

 to recognize a thrush from a sparrow among 

 birds, or a perch from a minnow among fishes ? 

 When the question was last put, I found that I 

 had but one course to pursue to admit that I 

 could not tell. The occurrence was somewhat 

 mortifying, and I have, time and time again since 

 then, endeavored to discuss, upon paper, this 

 very interesting subject. 



The result, to date, is flat failure ; but a his- 

 tory of nugatory effort may prove of some value. 

 Can it be done ? Is there a secret, through knowl- 

 edge of which a young person or an inexperienced 

 adult can be taught to intelligently observe and 

 correctly interpret the course of nature? Are 

 not those, in truth, who do see to advantage, 

 and quickly comprehend the purport of what 

 they see, born with a faculty that can not be ac- 



