RENEWING SPUING DAYS. 67 



symbols or writing which any one else cannot read 

 or easily comprehend. In addition to this, if you 

 are a real naturalist, you will find it worth while to 

 keep a rather full natural-history Journal, in which 

 each evening you can write out your observations for 

 the day on the plants, reptiles, birds and quadrupeds 

 which you have seen, with such other matters as came 

 under your observation. Often this Journal will con- 

 tain much information upon the habits of the birds 

 of whose eggs you make a record in your oological 

 Ledger, and a reference to the page of your Journal 

 on which this information is written ought to be 

 appended to the Ledger item. Some keep a separate 

 Ledger for the eggs they obtain by exchange, but I 

 see no advantage in so doing. 



When you come to review this record, — for you 

 will occasionally do so with fond pleasure on cold 

 November nights, as you sit with your slippered feet 

 against the fender, — you will recall the balmy spring 

 days when the notes were fresh, will revive a thou- 

 sand delightful experiences, and reproduce to the 

 imagination those scenes and sensations of merry 

 woodland and meadow which the ornithologist loves. 

 More practically, you will be surprised and interested 

 to discover how large are the stores of out-door facts 

 you have stowed away ; and, by and by, prompted 

 by some companion's inquiries, discussion with a 



