14 PREFACE 



the past though, while human nature remains un- 

 changed, it will never entirely cure him of the desire to 

 make prize of their eggs. 



The idea of a Nature Calendar dates from the days of 

 good old Gilbert White and, as a helpful aid to memory, 

 it can scarcely be omitted. Many such have been 

 published, but are often misleading, inasmuch as they 

 give the earliest date for each occurrence. The writer, 

 from his own notes of the past thirty-five years, aims 

 at giving an average date. It is evident that as 

 regards nesting and the appearance of the migrants, 

 there must be a considerable difference between 

 Sussex or Hampshire and Northumberland, so that the 

 lists should be approximately correct for a Midland 

 district. The date given when a bird " nests " is 

 that of the laying of the first egg. 



