THK BIRDS OF TEHKICK HOUSE. 57 



seeds of cherlock, dandelion, and other plants ; which, whatever their medi- 

 cinal properties may be, the cultivator of the soil justly considers as inimical 

 to his interests; and which he who plumes himself upon high farming 

 labours assiduously to eradicate. In this work, or at any rate, in greatly 

 checking their increase, he is materially assisted by the bird in question, as 

 well as by the Finch tribe in general. 



In the rules laid down or drawn up for the special enlightenment and 

 guidance of " The Standlake and Brighthampton Sparrow Club," and by this 

 discerning body approved of and adopted, two Greenfinches, are held to be 

 equal in value to one Sparrow. I agree with the sage members of this club 

 in their estimate of the comparative value of the two species, because un- 

 questionably the injuiy resulting to the agriculturist from the ravages of 

 insects and their larvai upon which the Sparrow mainly subsists, is far more 

 serious than that which he sustains by the prevalence of noxious weeds, up- 

 on the seeds of which the Greenfinch in a great measure feeds, — insects 

 being only occasionally included in its " bill of fare." But in forming their 

 estimate, these sages are guided solely by the supposed injury done to their 

 crops by the birds in question. They see plainly enough what it is the 

 Sparrow feeds upon for a week or two before the sickle is put into the corn ; 

 their eyes are open to its doings for about one-twenty-fifth part of the j'ear, 

 but duritig the remaining twenty-four parts, they either wilfully shut their 

 eyes, or they are afflicted with real blindness in reference to its diet. They 

 see it feeding for a few days upon the ripening grain, and without inquiring 

 further into the merits of the case, — without considering for a moment 

 whether the services rendered them by the bird do not justly entitle it to 

 the small portion of the grain it contents itself with taking ; and Avhether 

 even after it has consumed this small portion, they are not still infinitely its 

 debtors ; sentence of death is forthwith pronounced against it. This pro- 

 ceeding is directly opposed to the spirit of English law; it is the glory of 

 our English law, and redounds to the honour of those who administer it in 

 its purity, that in criminal as in civil cases, evidence on both sides is freely 

 admitted and patiently listened to ; nor is a verdict given, until the evidence 

 has been carefully analyzed, and the guilt or innocence of the party arraign- 

 ed as clearly established as it is possible to be — " the benefit of any doubt " 

 being given to " the accused." Were this spirit of fair dealing to be dis- 

 played in our treatment of the feathered tribes, we should have no Sparrow 

 Clubs dealing death and destruction ai'ound; — startling the timid, by causing 

 sudden and alarming explosions to take place close to the windows of dwel- 

 lings ; and endangering the public safety, or imperilling the vision of her 

 Majesty's lieges by showers of small shots, discharged on highways or in 

 bye-ways , there is hardly a bird but would be hailed as the benefactor of 

 the human race, and welcomed as one of the most beautiful and interesting 

 links in the chain of Creation. 



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