Birds of Town and Country 



By Henry W. Henshaw 



From very ancient times birds have appealed to the interest and imagination of 

 mankind. They have furnished themes for innumerable poets, have appeared in 

 many guises in primitive religions, and by their flight inspired the predictions of 

 the soothsayers of old. In these modern and prosaic times birds still continue 

 to interest mankind, and the last decade has witnessed a marked strengthening 

 of the sentiment toward them. 



The present interest is direct and personal, and today hundreds of thousands 

 of men and women in various parts of the country, old as well as young, are 

 employing much of their leisure in familiarizing themselves with the birds of 

 their respective localities. In following birds afield, in studying their habits, 

 and listening to their songs, they bring themselves into close touch and sympathy 

 with nature and add new zest to life — a zest, be it noted, which enriches without 

 harm to any creature. 



Woulcl that the same could be said of the sportsman who almost invariably is 

 at heart a nature lover, though the primitive instinct to kill is uppermost. Many 

 sportsmen, however, who formerly followed wild creatures only to kill, have 

 abandoned the use of rifle and shotgun, and today are finding greater pleasure in 

 studying and photographing their former quarry than they did in pursuing it 

 with murderous intent. A real interest in living outdoor wild life leads naturally 

 to a love of nature in all her varied manifestations, and this, in all lands and 

 under all circumstances, remains a source of lasting pleasure. 



A love of birds from the esthetic side, however, is of comparatively recent 

 development and had little place among primitive peoples, who utilized birds 

 chiefly in two ways — for food and for ornament. Feathers, especially, appealed 

 to them for pur])oses of adornment, and this barbaric taste has not only survived 

 among civilized races, but in recent years has developed to an extent which 

 threatens the very existence of many of the most beautiful and notable species 

 of birds in various parts of the world. No region is too remote, no forests too 

 deep, no mountains too high to stay the plume-hunter, stimulated by the golden 

 bribe offered by the tyrant Fashion. 



Happily, America has taken the lead in an attempt to restrict this craze for 

 feather adormnent, which means nothing less than the death of millions of 

 beautiful and useful creatures. Nor are evidences wanting that other countries 

 as well have recognized the gravity of the situation and are preparing to pass 

 protective laws similar to those recently enacted in this country. 



BIRDS ARE THE FARMERS' MOST EFFICIENT ALLIES 



While birds appeal to the regard and interest of man from the esthetic side 

 as no other creatures do, there is another and even more important point of 

 view, and it is no doubt true that of late years interest in birds has been greatly 

 stimulated by the discovery that they possess an economic value. Indeed, so 



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