250 ADVENTURES AMONG BIRDS 



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 depredations 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 breed- 

 ing time. That is to say, protection from human de- 

 stroyers; 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 senti- 

 ment 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 increas- 

 ing 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 beauti- 

 fully illustrated. I turn over a heap of these publica- 

 tions every year and sigh to recall the time when I was 



