1 62 BIRD LIFE GLIMPSES 



would we miss them — the better part of us, I mean 

 — were they once gone ! Harm to the song-birds ! 

 Why, when do these grand assemblages take place ? 

 Not till the spring is over, and our migratory 

 warblers gone or thinking of going. They are 

 autumn and winter sights. Are our thrushes and 

 blackbirds alarmed, then ^ — or bold robin ? Perish 

 the calumny ! " Infest ! " No, it is not the star- 

 lings — loved of all save clods — who infest the 

 country. It is rather, our country gentlemen. 

 "Song-birds!" No, ^hey have nothing to do with 

 it. " Will you ha' the truth on't .? " To see life, 

 and to wish to take it, is one and the same thing 

 with the many, so that the greater the numbers, the 

 greater seems the need to destroy. 



