Yesterday with the last instalment of the Country Diary which Mr. E. S. Wilkinson has maintained in these columns with but a few exceptions, when on holiday, for six years, that pleasing feature of the "North-China Daily News" comes to an end. Mr. Wilkinson long ago established himself as an authority on bird lore, not only in the excellent books he has written upon the subject, but in the references he has made to the same subject in his Country Diary. It must be that the watching of birds, and their recognition, whether through field glasses, or by the naked eye, induces a degree of observation with which less fortunate individuals are unblessed. Mr. Wilkinson is a highly trained observer, and the result has been that on his daily walks in the early morning he sees very much more than does the ordinary.ndividual, for he notes not only the doings of his birds, but the habits of the flora and fauna of the countryside. It was annually with a sense of relief that town dwellers impressed with the idea that winter was still with them, would read one day that Mr. Wilkinson had noticed the approach of spring in the fields, the hedgerows and the ponds, signs that the sap was moving, and that nature was throwing off the sleep.of winter and preparing for more genial days. And so it was with the passing seasons until he recorded the swift passage of autumn to the coming of winter again. Thus for six years he has brought the country to the breakfast table, with an infinite variety, and a charm of writing which is peculiarly his own. His decision to take a rest will be regretted not only by this journal, but it is sure by its large number of readers, as leaving a gap in their daily reading, and it is only to be hoped that sometime in the future he will again decide to charm and interest his admirers. Should ever that occur he may rest assured of a most hearty welcome.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.