BIRD AND ARBOUR DAY AT FOXES CORNERS 393 
nor stuffing them, nor collecting their eggs. Persons who 
make a business of studying birds may shoot birds now 
and then, and collect their eggs. But these persons are 
scientists and they are grown-up people. They are trying 
to add to the sum of human knowledge, but we want to 
know birds just because we want to. But even scientists 
do not take specimens recklessly. They do not rob 
nests. They do not kill brooding birds. They do not 
make collections merely for the sake of making them; 
and even their collections are less valuable than a know- 
ledge of the bird as it lives and flies and sings. 
Boys and girls should not make collections of eggs, for 
these collections are mere curiosities, as collections of 
spools and marbles are. They may afford some enter- 
tainment, to be sure, but one can find amusement in 
harmless ways. Some people think that making collec- 
tions makes one a naturalist, but it does not. The 
naturalist cares more for things as they really are in their 
own homes than for museum specimens. One does not 
love the birds when he steals their eggs and breaks up 
their homes; and he is depriving the farmer of one of his 
best friends, for birds keep insects in check! 
Stuffed birds do not sing and empty eggs do not hatch. 
Then let us go to the fields and watch the birds. Sit down 
on the soft grass and try to make out what the Robin is 
doing on yonder fence or why the Wren is bursting with 
song in the thicket. An opera-glass or spy-glass will 
bring them close to you. Try to find out not only what 
the colours and shapes and sizes are, but what their habits 
are. What does the bird eat? How much does it eat? 
Where is its nest? How many eggs does it lay? What 
