'l"hc growing interest in tiie study of nature and the establishment of nature 

 study courses in our schools, in connection with the admirable campaign to teach 

 the people the value of birds, inaugurated by the Audubon societies and the 

 American (Jrnithologists' Union, lias already created a sentiment in favor of 

 bird protection without which the best of laws are practically ineffective. 



Teachers have been quick to realize that the inherent, universal interest in 

 bird-life can be made of great educational .and moral value in the training of 

 children. No force at the State's command could effectually prevent boys from 

 robbing nests and killing birds. Nor should the boy be prevented by force from 

 giving this wholly natural exhibition of traits inherited from savage ancestors. 

 The remedy here is to be applied, not by the State's bird wardens or police, 

 but by its teachers. A normal, healthy boy should want to hunt birds and their 

 nests, but a very little of the right kind of instruction at this stage of his life 

 will often so broaden his interests that he soon finds living birds more attractive 

 than dead ones. 



As for the destruction of birds bv cats, there can be no ddubl that it would 

 be largely decreased by the passage of a law requiring the annual licensing 

 of cats, and authorizing the proper authorities to kill all non-licensed cats. 

 Such a law should be supported not only by the friends of birds, but by the 

 friends of cats as well. By the former because the restriction of the cat population 

 to the well-fed tabby of the fireside would not only greatly reduce the cat 

 population, but would do away with its worst element, the cats who hunt for 

 a living. It should be supported by the latter because its enforcement would 

 put an end to the existence of the many starving felines of our cities whose 

 happiest fate is sudden death. 



If birds are of value, as we believe them to be, we should not only prevent 

 their decrease, but we should take such measures as seem calculated to assist 

 their increase. We have seen that in destroying our forests we deprive many 

 insectivorous birds of their homes, while in clearing hedge rows we often rob 

 seed-eating birds of the protection the undergrowth affords them. With com- 

 paratively little trouble we can add greatly to the attractions of our farms and 

 gardens from the birds' point of view. Clumps of trees left in the fields and 

 rows of trees along the hedge rows will prove paying investments, and wherever 

 it does not seriously interfere with the tilling of the land the undergrowth 

 should be spared. During the winter food in small quantities may be used to 

 attract birds, and in the summer water for bathing or drinking is always wel- 

 comed by them. Wren and Bluebird and Martin houses should be erected in 

 suitable positions with the hope of securing bird tenants, who will ])ay a most 

 profitable rental. 



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