The object of this pamphlet is to furnish a list of birds that may be seen in this vicinity if one goes afield to make the acquaintance of the feathered songsters, and to give the approximate time of their arrival.

It is not its object to be technical or classical or to give descriptions, for all have access to books that fur­nish abundant knowledge of birds. What I offer is a careful record of personal observations and experiences, hoping to stimulate a desire in others to learn something of ornithology from nature, for it can not be satisfac­torily learned from books alone.

My natural ear is attuned to music, so many of my remarks will be on the songs of birds, for to me as to John Burroughs "What is a bird without its song? It seems to me that I do not know a bird till I have heard its voice."

Many of the inhabitants of Androscoggin County are greatly interested in its birds. Probably there are more bird-lovers in it than in any other county of New Eng­land in proportion to the number of inhabitants. For this reason alone it is very desirable that we have a cat­alogue of the birds that may be seen in the county. Since I knew of no one more capable of making such a cata­logue than Miss Carrie E. Miller I suggested the idea to her. In whatever she undertakes Miss Miller is one of the most energetic and persevering persons with whom I am acquainted. She has acquired her remarkable famil­iarity with the birds of this county in the early morning and late afternoon, for while she has been studying the birds she has been employed every day as a clerk in one of our city banks. Miss Miller has been greatly aided in her favorite pursuit in possessing an ability to distinguish the notes and songs of birds such as few possess. I ought to add that there is much more in Miss Miller's pamphlet than a mere catalogue of birds.

During the summer vacation days of my childhood in the country I became acquainted with the robin, "ground sparrow," bobolink, kingbird, "yellow-hammer," and cuckoo.

I took my first step in ornithology hearing the hermit thrush, when studying botany.

After my interest in the hermit thrush there were other birds I wanted to know. Burroughs says "Take the first step in ornithology (to me it was hearing the thrush), and you are ticketed for the whole voyage. There is a fascination about it quite overpowering," understood only by those who have had the experience. Every walk, every sojourn in camp or at the farm means so much more, for "the cawing of a crow makes one feel at home and a new song drowns all care."

After struggling along for a few years making slow progress, I had the good fortune to be invited to join the college class on their walks with Prof. Stanton. Then observation really began, for under his guidance every bird student must receive knowledge and inspiration.

For several seasons the experience expressed in Van Dyke's poem, "School," has been mine.