54 BRITISH BIRDS. [vol. xiv. 



It is extremely useful to both sportsman and naturalist to 

 be able to recognize at a glance the tracks of birds and beasts 

 which they encounter in their rambles afield. During the 

 daylight hours, tracks are often the only source of mformation 

 as to the presence of certain species in a district. Once the 

 tracks are recognized, arrangements can then usually be 



IMPRESSION OF A MAGPIE's TAIL-FEATHERS, AT THE SPOT 

 WHERE THE BIRD ALIGHTED IN THE SNOW. 



{Photographed by R. Clapham.) 



made to interview the bird or beast from a suitably concealed 

 vantage point. 



The ignorance which I have seen displayed concerning 

 wild-life tracks, even by people who have been brought up 

 in the country, is amazing. It is not at all uncommon to 

 find folks following rabbit tracks in snow, backwards, under 

 the impression that the small imprints of the forefeet are 



