BIRDS 



land around them opened up by a study of Natural 

 History. 



What is sport to man is often death or persecution 

 to some creature which, more likely than not, is a 

 valuable ally, but he knows it not. Since the inven- 

 tion of the gun, man has been engaged upon the 

 deliberate and wanton upsetting of the balance of 

 Nature. He ventures where angels fear to tread, not 

 because of his bravery, but by reason of his want of 

 knowledge. Knowing no better, he allows his children 

 to wantonly maim and kill the wild birds, and rob 

 their nests. He hands down to them erroneous, 

 mischievous, and harmful beliefs in regard to the 

 sub-human inhabitants of veld, mountain, forest, and 

 stream, which results in the persecution of the creatures 

 which are helping him in his battle for life. 



For instance, it is popularly believed the harmless 

 little geko lizard is venomous. The result is, this 

 highly useful little insect-eater is killed at sight. So 

 much for the wisdom of man. Conversing with a 

 lady school teacher from an up-country dorp, I 

 expressed regret at the profound ignorance of our 

 children on the ways and habits of the wild creatures 

 of this country. She admitted the fact, but was eager 

 to inform me she encouraged the boys in the school 

 to learn Natural History. One boy, she declared, 

 had made a wonderful collection of birds' skulls. 

 ' How did he procure the skulls ? " I queried. ' He 

 went out excursions and killed the birds with a shot- 

 gun," she replied. " Other boys," she declared with 

 pride, " collected birds' eggs, and had really lovely 



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