Introduction 



bird students, she soon formed the habit 

 of jotting down her experiences and the 

 "observations" are the result — kept, it 

 need hardly be said — with no thought of 

 their being seen by any but her closest 

 friends and fellow bird lovers. 



For a number of years, in spite of long 

 intervals of illness, these notes were kept, 

 the last being entered not many days be- 

 fore her death. 



It was a very curious fact that while the 

 ordinary songs of the birds did not rouse 

 her from her light morning sleep, an un- 

 usual note would waken her at once ; that, 

 in the spring before her death, when all 

 she could see and hear of the birds was 

 from her bed, a Hermit Thrush should 

 sing his lovely song near her window 

 seemed like a special benediction. His 

 song is rarely heard in this latitude and 

 her joy in it was great. Her hearing was 

 very acute and she knew all the common 

 and most of the uncommon notes of the 

 birds of this region. 



Mrs. Farwell was not only a bird 

 student but a bird lover and this implied, 

 with one like her, that, as much happiness 

 came to her from the birds, so she must 

 do for their happiness all in her power 



[12 ] 



