W. N. P. Barbellion’s diary, 1905

I am thinking that on the whole I am a most discontented mortal. I get fits of what I call "What's the good of anything" mania. I keep asking myself incessantly…

When I can get hold of any one interested in Natural History I talk away in the most garrulous manner and afterwards feel ashamed of myself for doing it.

The Captain, in answer to my letter, advises me to join one of the ordinary professions and then follow up Nat. History as a recreation, or else join Science…

During dinner hour, between morning and afternoon school, went out on the S---- B---- River Bank, and found another Sedge Warbler's nest. This is the fifth I have…

On reviewing the past egg-season, I find in all I have discovered 232 nests belonging to forty-four species. I only hope I shall be as successful with the…

A hot, sultry afternoon, during most of which I was stretched out on the grass beside an upturned stone where a battle royal was fought between Yellow and Black…

In bed with a feverish cold. I am afraid I have very few Nat. His. observations to make. It is hard to observe anything at all when lying in bed in a dull bedroom…

Down with another cold. Feeling pretty useless. It's a wonder I don't develop melancholia.

By 7 a.m. H---- and I were down on the mudflats of the River with field-glasses, watching Waders. Ringed Plover in great numbers.