vi PREFACE. 



of making a varied collection of birds, in 

 Bloomsbury, are manifold. Still it is not the 

 neighbourhood for many " field " observations ; 

 and some unkind critics have not hesitated to 

 throw at their brethren, whose lot has been cast 

 in the shade of Museum work, the taunt of 

 being "two-pair-back-garret" naturalists. There 

 may have been such, but I have not met with 

 them in my experience ; on the contrary, every 

 one of my colleagues in the British Museum, 

 has been as fond of work in the field as in the 

 cabinet, and has made as good use of his 

 opportunities as some of our more fortunate 

 compatriots, who have been able to travel in 

 far countries. 



At South Kensington, however, to which the 

 Natural History collections have been removed, 

 quite a respectable assortment of birds visit the 

 gardens attached to the Museum in the Crom- 

 well Road. During the migration-time, Pipits, 

 Wheatears, Siskins, Goldfinches, and other small 

 birds stop to rest. Turtle-Doves have been 

 delayed in their southern journey by the gales 

 of autumn, and Kestrels have stayed with us, 

 and, let us hope, have taken toll from the ever- 



