PROLOGUE. 



xi 



see around us. The fact that the book is intensely 

 local constitutes whatever merit it may have. There 

 is nothing herein described that any Concord citizen 

 with an opera-glass cannot see by taking a little pains. 

 Perhaps exception should be made of the game-birds 

 of which such a generous list has been furnished by 

 the sportsmen. These birds are all shot on our mead- 

 ows, and their stuffed bodies in local cabinets furnish 

 ocular demonstration of their presence here ; but many 

 of them, especially the sea-fowl, are rare, and are 

 found about Concord only when blown in after a 

 storm. 



The writer is emboldened to put forth this little 

 book by the thought that, imperfect as it is, a like 

 publication would have been a treasure to her when 

 she was young. With the hope that it may be a foun- 

 dation for better observers to build upon, it is laid 

 before a circle of indulgent friends. The following 

 lines, written by Miss Sarah F. Sanborn, the accom- 

 plished president of the Wild Flower Club, admirably 

 express the spirit that makes all Nature-lovers kin. 

 The verses were written some years ago when White 

 Park was just emerging from White's Swamp, and 

 the place was still a haunt of the wild flowers. 



