xvii OUTDOOR AND INDOOR ORNITHOLOGY 403 



lesson or two from some one who has mastered it, 

 and a good deal of practice. Pace, which must 

 be carefully distinguished from hurry, is a great 

 desideratum. If you return in the evening with six 

 birds that you wish to skin, you have some work 

 before you. 



The keeping of birds as pets ought only to be 

 undertaken by people like Mrs. Brightwen, who are 

 prepared to devote a great deal of care to them. 

 And there are some that under the most favourable 

 circumstances are always unhappy in confinement. 



A Robin Redbreast in a cage 

 Puts all heaven in a rage. 



Water birds with clipped wings if they have a 

 pond and a moderate run are not unhappy. The 

 Gulls at the Zoo evidently take the keenest pleasure 

 in their morning wash. Some people regret that 

 such a bird as an Eagle is ever cabined in an 

 aviary. I think a zoological society may fairly do 

 what an individual may not, for the animals which it 

 keeps in captivity afford instruction to large numbers 

 of people. In the same way with stuffed specimens, 

 it is the private collectors upon whom a check should 

 be placed, rather than upon public museums. More- 

 over it is comparatively inexpensive to build a large 

 aviary in which birds may live happily, whereas 

 boa-constrictors require much initial outlay of capital 

 to build them a house, and considerable current 

 expenditure to keep them warm. 



Much as we should like to dispense with books 

 and learn everything from nature, it is clear that on 



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