liS president's address. 



observations, they may perhaps be found worthy of preserva- 

 tion. 



From my early days I have always taken great pleasure in 

 studying the habits of birds and fishes. The former especially 

 attracted me, as I had greater opportunities for the observa- 

 tion of their habits. Adjoining my father's house was a large 

 corn stack-yard, frequented in winter by flocks of small birds. 

 My school as a boy was at a farmhouse, on the way to which 

 I had to walk through a field by the side of a clear runner of 

 water. At one part of its course this formed a pond on the 

 sides of which clumps of whins attracted to their shelter many 

 brown linnets. Captives of these were caught on willow- 

 wands smeared with bird lime. The pond itself was also 

 much frequented by varieties of small birds in summer, and 

 by the Common and Jack Snipe in winter. Added to this the 

 neighbouring hedgerows on the way attracted fieldfares and 

 redwings in considerable numbers, so that the daily walk to 

 school aff'orded most enjoyable opportunities for the study of 

 bird life. 



I made a collection of eggs which gave me great pleasure, 

 and on leaving school this included thirty-seven varieties. 

 This was easily done at that time, few of the woods in the 

 district being then preserved as they now are. It was not, 

 however, until May, 1857, that I began in real earnest as a 

 collector. After a long illness I had been sent to Croft to 

 recruit my health, and one forenoon, whilst sitting with a 

 friend under the verandah at the Spa, I saw a spotted fly- 

 catcher passing in and out and flying along the whole length 

 of the structure, and showing great anxiety in its manner. I 

 remarked to my companion that the bird was apparently 

 seeking a spot where it might build its nest. It then flew 

 away, but soon returned bringing another bird with it. Both 

 together examined a particular spot most carefully, and I 

 noted it as that which had been selected for the nest. Next 

 morning there was no appearance of a nest at all, but on the 

 following morning a small piece of moss had been deposited, 

 and so a nest was begun in which four eggs were ultimately 



