1 908-1909.] Bird-Life in Early Scottish Literature. 141 



a kingfisher, — " the sea-blue bird of March," as Tennyson calls 

 it, — sitting on its bare perch of willow, or darting off and 

 hovering like a hawk over its prey in mid-stream. All may 

 come into view in turn, and may be watched in every action, 

 as they carry on their domestic economy. A burn is a fine 

 study, but it takes a long time to know it well, with its 

 flowers and fishes, its birds and beasts, not to speak of its 

 minute inhabitants of bank and water. 



The study of E"atural History is a source of pleasure, and 

 whatever may be one's station or pursuit in life, it is a great 

 thing to have an intellectual hobby, which will afford an agree- 

 able occupation in leisure hours. It can be studied out of 

 doors from early spring till autumn, and in winter there is 

 plenty to be done in the analysis and determination of speci- 

 mens. The naturalist lives in the fresh air, and when he 

 leaves his business behind, and seeks amid the solitudes of 

 nature to penetrate her mysteries, he feels the quickening of 

 a higher life. The fact that he walks with a purpose gives 

 a zest to his rambles. He reaps much enjoyment, and gains 

 more substantial benefit than those who devote the same time 

 to sport. 



[Numerous lantern -slides were shown to illustrate this 

 paper.] 



Mr W. C. Crawford, F.E.S.E., at this meeting read his 

 " Eeport as Delegate to the British Association at Leicester." 



Ylll.— BIRD- LIFE IN EARLY SCOTTISH 

 LITERATURE. 



By the Rev. D. W. WILSON, M.A. 



{Read April 38, 1909.) 



This is an interesting subject, with more of purpose and of 

 knowledge in it than one might imagine. Our starting-point 

 is with the old Church literature, before the Eeformation had 



