THE STUDY OF BIRD LIFE 



Nature's adverse forces. With his weapons he has 

 obtained mastery over the entire sub-human kingdom. 

 Is his rule a wise and humane one ? Is it dictated 

 by reason, or by prejudice, superstition, individual 

 self-interest, and the wanton gratification of the 

 barbarian lust of killing — the joy of spilling blood ? 



Of all the sub-human tribes and races under man's 

 sway, the birds are one, if not the most valuable. 

 Without their aid he could not exist, and yet they are 

 a possession on which he sets the least value. Those 

 who seek to teach him why the birds are such valuable 

 allies and helpers are disheartened and discouraged 

 by the indifference of the various authorities and the 

 people generally. It is those people who are ignorant 

 of their ignorance, who clog the wheels of human 

 progress. If a severe check is not put upon the 

 present wanton and wholesale destruction of birds, 

 man will bring upon himself a terrible retribution — a 

 disaster which will be without parallel in the history 

 of his race. 



The following remarks by James Buckland are 

 both forcible and true : " Wherever there are birds 

 whose plumage is suitable for millinery, there will the 

 cruel and rapacious agents of the feather dealers be 

 found engaged in orgies of wasteful destruction. 

 Wherever there are birds that are classed as ' game,' 

 there hastens the market hunter to kill, kill, kill, so 

 long as any saleable thing remains to be killed. 

 Wherever there are species that have been harried 

 by man to the brink of extinction, there will be the 

 collector also, anxious to obtain the last lingering 



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