PREFACE xi 



to make himself popular. Therefore, I will not call 

 my book " Observations on," etc. I have watched 

 birds only, I have not observed them. It is true that, 

 in the text itself, I do not shrink from the latter word, 

 either as substantive or verb, or even from the Latin 

 name of a bird, here and there, when I happen to 

 know it (for is there not such a thing as childish 

 pride?). But that is diiiferent. I do not begin at 

 once in that way, and by the time I get to it anyone 

 will have found me out, and know that I am really 

 quite harmless. Besides, I have now set matters in 

 their right light. But I was not going to handicap 

 myself upon my very cover and trust to its contents, 

 merely, for getting over it. That would have been 

 over-confidence. 



Again, in the following pages there are some 

 points which I just touch upon and leave with an 

 undertaking to go more fully into, in a subsequent 

 chapter. This I have always meant to do, but want 

 of space has, in some instances, prevented me from 

 carrying out my intention. For this, I will apologise 

 only, leaving it to my readers to excuse me should 

 they think fit. Perhaps they will do so very readily. 



Also, — but I cannot afford to point out any more 

 of my shortcomings. That, too, I must leave to " the 

 reader," who, I hope, will in this matter but little 

 deserve that epithet of " discerning " which is often 

 so generously — not to say boldly — bestowed upon 

 him, 



