BIRDS AT THEIR BEST 3 



exhibited. At Brighton, for instance, on many 

 occasions when I have visited and stayed in that 

 town, there was no inchnation to see the Booth 

 Collection, which is supposed to be an ideal 

 collection of British birds ; and we know it was 

 the life-work of a zealous ornithologist who was 

 also a wealthy man, and who spared no pains to 

 make it perfect of its kind. About eighteen 

 months ago I passed a night in the house of a 

 friend close to the Dyke Road, and next morning 

 having a couple of hours to get rid of I strolled 

 into the m useum. It was painfully disappointing, 

 for though no actual pleasure had been expected, 

 the distress experienced was more than I had 

 bargained for. It happened that a short time 

 before, I had been watching the living Dartford 

 warbler, at a time when the sight of this small 

 elusive creature is loveliest, for not only was the 

 bird in his brightest feathers, but his surroundings 

 were then most perfect — 



The whin was frankincense and flame. 



His appearance, as I saw him then and on 

 many other occasions in the furze -flowering 

 season, is fully described in a chapter in this 



