232 Wild Bird Guests 



took part in the masque. Below these are in- 

 teresting inscriptions, some of them historical, 

 others consisting of quotations from the masque 

 itself. Of these the one that sends the reader 

 away filled with determination to do something 

 for the cause of bird conservation is the com- 

 pact sworn to by the poet, the converted plume- 

 hunter, and the naturalist: 



" A compact, then, we three, that when we go 

 Forth from these gracious trees 

 Into the world, we go as witnesses 

 Before the men who make our country's laws, 

 And by our witness show 

 In burning words 



The meaning of these sylvan mysteries: 

 Freedom and sanctuary for the birds! " 



