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in their fiivunrite subjects of studj' ; but I venture to think that, as far as private 

 collections are concerned, it is possible that there may be too many of them, and 

 that the ambition of collectors to enrich their own cabinets and to distinguish 

 themselves by the possession of rare specimens, tends to a depopulation in the 

 sources of supply, which we have much reason to regret. When we hear that 

 when such birds as the hoopoe, or the golden oriole, chance to visit the east or 

 or south-east shores of our island, they are almost immediately shot down by some 

 aspiring ornithologist in search of specimens for his private collection ; when we 

 find that almost as soon as the dwelling-place of some rare plant becomes known, 

 it is forthwith invaded by a succession of collectors, each of them no less eager to 

 secure his prize than to conceal his discovery, an endeavour which commonly ends 

 in the revelation of the hiding-place, under a bond of secrecy, to some ingenuous 

 friend, by whom the same process is repeated under similar conditions and with 

 similar results ; the systematic depredation Vhich thus takes place, though full, no 

 doubt, of credit to the fortunate few who enrich their private collections by its 

 spoils, is fraught with disappointment to the many who feel no less interest in the 

 treasure thus discovered and appropriated, than the discoverers themselves ; and 

 the public has reason to wish that the spirit of collection, which has thus become 

 one of extirpation, were a little less widely diffused, and that collectors, who 

 appear to pursue their object more in the spirit of relic-hunters than of students, 

 would be content to expend their energies on objects more easily obtained or re- 

 placed than is the case with some of the plants or birds above mentioned. But 

 there is also another and more powerful agency of destruction at work, in respect 

 of birds and creatures supposed to be injurious to other birds or animals, or to the 

 use and subsistence of men. I suppose that we have all heard of the ruthless per- 

 secution carried on against the poor harmless hedgehog, both by gamekeepers and 

 by ignorant people in general ; and some of us have probably seen the very sensible 

 proclamation which was circulated some time ago in France, in which the favour 

 of the public was invoked towards him as well as the toad, the mole, and small 

 birds in general, as being, each of them, destroyers of insects, the real enemies of 

 mankind.* I believe the toad, and in a great measure the hedgehog, to be gviiltless 



*A SENSIBLE RURAL NOTICE. 



In one respect at least the French are in advance of ourselves. They have learnt the value 

 of birds, having discovered that whatever injury they may do to the fruit-trees is more than 

 balanced by the service which they render in the destruction of insects. The following is the 

 translation, as given in Social Notes, of a notice which has been put up in every commune in 

 France : — 



This board is placed under the direction of the common-sense and honesty of the public. 



Hedgehog. — Lives upon mice, snails, and wire-worms, animals injurious to agriculture ; 

 don't Uill a hedgehog. 



Toad. — Helps agriculture : destroys twenty to thirty insects hourly ; don't kill toads. 



Mole. — Destroys wire-worms, larvae, and insects injurious to the farmers ; no trace of 

 vegetable cer found in his stomach ; does more good than harm ; don't kill moles. 



Cockchafer and its Ai>-i'«. — Deadly enemy to farmers; lays 70 to 100 eggs; kill the 

 cockchafer. 



Birds. — Each department of France loses yearly many millions of francs by the injury 

 done by insects. Birds are the only enemies capable of battling with them victoriously. Birds 

 are great helps to farmers. Children, don't take birds' nests. 



