7 8 IN WINTER. 



learn the exact truth, if he guards himself con- 

 tinuously against false impressions, the danger is 

 comparatively slight, and diminishes to practi- 

 cally nothing by repetition of observation. It 

 must be remembered, too, that an ocurrence 

 may be very rare, and, if observed by one not 

 familiar with the ordinary conditions, he may be 

 misled so far as to suppose it not unusual ; but 

 it is far from justifiable to assert that he did not 

 " see straight." 



This is particularly true in the study of na- 

 ture ; by which is meant, at this time, the obser- 

 vation of objects, animate and inanimate, as they 

 are and where they belong, not the study of 

 " specimens " taken from their proper places. 

 If a bird is seen out of season, or out of place, 

 or copies the song and manners of a far different 

 species, the observer is not true to himself if he 

 withholds a statement as to the fact, although 

 others may not have been so fortunate as to wit- 

 ness this ; and no less imperative is it to express 

 his opinions and give his own interpretations of 

 what he sees. To say that it is indiscreet to set 

 his " unsupported opinion against the facts gath- 

 ered by a host of observers " is simply absurd. 

 To fail to speak out boldly is miserable coward- 

 ice ; and he who advises silence because an hon- 

 est conviction wars with others' opinions is con- 

 temptible. Evidently, having no opinions or 



