THE IMMORTAL NIGHTINGALE 245 



spot year after year, so that its breeding-place is 

 known to every human being in the neighbourhood, 

 and on this account it is more exposed to the depreda- 

 tions of the nest-robber than most small birds. The 

 increase of such a species, which must in any case 

 be exceedingly slow, can only come about by the 

 fullest protection during the breeding time. That is 

 to say, protection from human destroyers; from 

 wild animals and other destructive agencies we 

 cannot safeguard it. 



This infers a considerable change in the nature or 

 habits of the country boy, or the growth of a new 

 sentiment with regard to this species which would be 

 as great a protection to it as the sentiment about our 

 tame, familiar, universal robin has been to that bird. 

 But it is not a dream. I believe this change is being 

 wrought now in our "young barbarians" of the 

 country-side; that it is being brought about in many 

 ways by means of various agencies — by an increased 

 and increasing number of lovers of animals and of 

 nature, who in towns and villages form centres of 

 personal influence; by associations of men and 

 women, such as the Bird Protection, the Selborne, 

 and kindred societies; by nature study in the schools 

 throughout the rural districts, and by an abundant 

 supply of cheap nature literature for children. So 

 cheaply are these books now produced that the very 

 poorest children may have them, and though so cheap 

 they are exceedingly good of their kind — well written, 

 well printed, well and often very beautifully illus- 

 trated. I turn over a heap of these publications every 



