Papers on the Destruction of Native Birds. 205 



protection. On our Statute book there is a law making it unlaw- 

 ful to kill a certain few of them, but it is practically a dead 

 letter. 



Did you ever see a law enforced when nobody was interested 

 in its enforcement? 



PURPOSE OF THE AUDUBON SOCIETY. 



To secure the protection of our birds by awakening a better 

 sentiment, the Audubon Society, named after the greatest of 

 American ornithologists, has been founded. The object sought to 

 be accomplished by the Society are to prevent, as far as possible, — 



(i.) The killing of any wild birds not used for food. 



(2.) The taking or destroying of the eggs or nests of any wild 

 birds. 



(3.) The wearing of the feathers of wild birds. Ostrich 

 feathers, whether from wild or tame birds, and those of domestic 

 fowls are specially exempted. 



How does the Audubon Society work? It says, "The rem- 

 edy is to be found in a healthy public sentiment on the subject." 



And when it uses ihe word sentiment, it does not mean a 

 namby pamby idea, a diidish feeling, a sickly, foolish, aesthetic 

 idea which scorns the useful, and glories in a sunflower badge. 



Sentiment is a combination of science and heart; science 

 points out the path, and the heart impels the individual to action. 



Hence when our friend, Dr. Langdon, heads his remarks. 

 Science versus Sentiment, he either gives a very low meaning to 

 the word "sentiment," or puts science in a false position. 



The idea of the Audubon Society is to create a principle of 

 action founded upon intelligent public information and knowledge. 



Obviously it could not afford to use clap trap arguments, or to 

 distort the facts, as such a position would in the end destroy confi- 

 dence in its movements and react with terrific force in its over- 

 throw. 



It is not to be supposed, therefore, that it would intentionally 

 throw itself upon the public of 50,000,000 of people without 

 at least believing that it had a deserving and necessary cause for 

 action. 



Moreover the source from which a movement springs assists us 

 materially in determining whether the movement is founded upon 

 right ""eason. 



