184 On the Occurrence of some of the Rarer Species of Birds 



little variety to be found, all kinds of new and interesting facts are 

 ever and anon occurring to reward the diligent observer. Do we 

 not occasionally find that strangers come from a distance to our own 

 boundaries to find some rarity in the natural history world, which 

 we on the spot never even knew was located amongst us ? And 

 sometimes do we not ourselves roam far afield to search out some 

 longed-for object of desire, when we are but like the man who 

 hunts for his lost spectacles in every imaginable place, but the right 

 one, finding out at last that he has them on his own nose all the 

 time. Yes ! the trout has been, as often as not, lying under our 

 own bank, while we have been diligently flogging the water under 

 our neighbours'. I do not, indeed, mean to say that every one is 

 going to find some rare occurrences in his own district directly he 

 begins to search for them, but I do say that every one had better 

 thoroughly hunt up his own district first ere he goes further afield, 

 and he will often, nay generally, be rewarded, by finding his own 

 habitat much richer in local occurences than at first he had any idea 

 of. But I must not digress any longer, lest I tire where I would 

 fain interest ; and I would only suggest that if to those who have 

 some right to think themselves practical ornithologists, there is 

 much room left for learning and observation, to those who really 

 know but little about the birds of their native parishes and districts 

 there is an almost inexhaustible fund of interest lying open before 

 their eyes, if they will only keep them open, or in any case make 

 better use of them, than a neighbouring friend of mine who a few 

 days ago asked me if I had heard anything more of those Red 

 legged Bustards ! I had mentioned to him a little while ago, and 

 who could not understand my irrepressible burst of merriment, 

 which I fear may have struck him as being somewhat uncourteous, 

 as I enlightened him by saying that I concluded he was referring 

 to some Rough legged Buzzards, which had lately been captured in 

 these parts. But it was all the same to him, though not to me ; as 

 he had informed a neighbouring friend on my authority that I had 

 assured him that some wonderful specimens of the former description 

 had been lately killed near here, and his friend, a perfect stranger 

 to me, was coming over to see me about it. 



