1 64 FROM SPRING TO FALL. 



birds as they shot along looked exactly like the 

 scuts of rabbits vanishing at full speed. 



A most amusing incident occurred as I was once 

 watching these coots. A dabchick had dived about 

 ten yards away from me; when he rose he almost 

 touched the toe of my boot, which was close to 

 the floating weeds. This unexpected meeting began 

 and ended very suddenly on the part of the bird ; 

 for in one second his quick eye caught my own, 

 I heard a very faint blop, and the end part of the 

 dabchick left me at express speed. If those who 

 search for animals and birds would wear grey 

 clothes, stand perfectly still even if they are on 

 open places, leave their pipes and cigars at home, 

 and their guns as well, carrying a good field-glass 

 instead of it, they would see plenty of life. Let 

 the creatures come near to you if they will. Directly 

 any wild creature is followed, it becomes suspicious. 



Natural history is, I very firmly believe, only 

 yet in its infancy. Out-of-doors men and women 

 — for the latter hold their own with the so-called 

 sterner sex at the present time in the study of 

 natural history — will be the means of spreading 

 the truth, and nothing but the truth, in time. 



