THE WAYFARING TREE. By "B.B." Illustrated by D.J. Watkins Pitchford.

1945 1st edition. 8vo (155 x 222mm). Ppx,198. B/w engravings by D.J. Watkins-Pitchford, top edge stained blue. Blue cloth, silver-gilt birds motif to upper board, spine titled in silver-gilt.

From the foreword by the author: "This book is primarily for the man or woman who has a deep love for the country and country things and who has, by force of circumstance, to live in a city or town ...I believe that the only truly happy people are those who realize the preciousness of woods, meadows, and the open air." Chapters include: the New Forest; adders and snakes, the Knightwood Enclosure; W.H. Hudson's farmhouse, Boldre church and churchyard; a New Forest brook, New Forest names; a New Forest riding, bird life in the Forest, Buckler's Hard; Wicken Fen, butterflies; Tom Pillimore, tench fisher; my old home, early fishing memories; English smells, evacuees; taxidermy, jackdaws and magpies; sparrows, rooks and rookeries; rabbit potting in June, the keeper's knowledge; the old canal arm; an education test, two anglers; charm of ponds, making a garden pond, swifts; Mac the cowman, butterfly hunting; goldfinches, corncrakes, house sparrows, wild geese, return of the migrant; hawks, buzzards, owls, story of a tame snipe; big fish, giant carp, big tench; wildfowling, character of a wildfowler, lure of the sport; young enthusiasts, a dangerous bull; the Bryeburn, the shepherd's story, on the high hills, evening in the hills.