BEHIND THE BARS Bio 
to help them when they are exposed to cold, or are ill 
and maimed in some way. The first reason is that when 
Nature placed birds in certain localities provided with 
the best sorts of beaks, feet, etc., to make them able to 
earn their living, it was done because there was work 
there for them to do that they could perform better 
than anything else. They were a part of the Great Plan 
for preventing insect life (which also has its uses) from 
increasing too much and doing damage. This is the 
practical way of considering birds for what the Wise 
Men eall their ‘economic value.’ These birds may be 
able to hold their own against the birds of prey, that in 
the beginning were doubtless made to keep the smaller 
birds from becoming too numerous and upsetting the 
balance of the Plan, but when man came in, and not only 
destroyed them for some fancied damage to his crops, 
but took the young from the nest, or trapped the old 
birds, and sold them into captivity where they could no 
longer follow the creative law, to ‘increase and multiply,’ 
the danger became grave. 
“The second reason, however, is one that our own kind 
hearts can understand the best, and that is the misery 
of the bird born wild when he feels himself a captive. 
If he outlives the first misery, and seems to become 
resigned, he may become content in a way, but he can 
never forget the liberty he has lost, nor can we, in any 
way, make up to him, by mere food and creature-com- 
forts, the ecstasy of the wild life. The very fact that 
the healthful joy of flight and choice in mating is denied 
him is enough. 
“T did not realize this when I was a girl, and I also 
