30 BIRDS AND MAN 



again, and to bring these in, the work had to be 

 redone ; then it was put away and the subject 

 left for a few days to the " subUminal conscious- 

 ness," after which I took it up once more and 

 rewrote it all — list and analysis ; and I think it 

 now gives a fairly accurate account of the state 

 of these old impressions as they exist in memory. 



This has not been done solely for my own 

 gratification. I confess to a very strong feeling 

 of curiosity as to the mental experience on this 

 point of other field naturalists ; and as these, or 

 some of them, may have the same wish to look 

 into their neighbours' minds that I have, it may 

 be that the example given here will be followed. 



My list comprises 226 species — a large number 

 to remember when we consider that it exceeds 

 by about 16 or 18 the number of British species ; 

 that is to say, those which may truly be described 

 as belonging to these islands, without including 

 the waifs and strays and rare visitants which by 

 a fiction are described as British birds. Of the 

 226, the sight- impressions of 10 have become 

 indistinct, and one has been completely forgotten. 

 The sight of a specimen might perhaps revive an 

 image of this lost one as it was seen, a living 



