INTRODUCTION. xxi 



demands a study — patient and persistent — of the Web 

 of Life. 



Many fine birds have already suffered extermination ; 

 not a few are on the brink. Eveiy lover of birds must 

 therefore welcome the efforts that are made towards bird- 

 protection — partly by legislation, partly by the education 

 of public opinion (e.g. as regards the use of feathers in 

 decoration other than those from domesticated birds, like 

 the ostrich, and from birds shot for food), and partly by 

 the establishment of bird-sanctuaries, some of which have 

 already been attended with remarkable success. For 

 when a bird has been exterminated its loss is irreparable. 

 As Mr Beebe says in his beautiful book The Bird (1907) : 

 ' Let us beware of needlessly destroying even one of the 

 lives — so sublimely crowning the ages upon ages of 

 evolving ; and let us put forth all our efforts to save a 

 threatened species from extinction ; to give hearty aid to 

 the last few individuals pitifully sti-uggling to avoid 

 absolute annihilation. The beauty and genius of a work 

 of art may be reconceived, though its first material 

 expression be destroyed ; a vanished harmony may yet 

 again inspire the composer; but when the last individual 

 of a race of living beings breathes no more, another 

 heaven and another earth must pass before such a one 

 can be again.' 



J. ARTHUR THOMSON. 



