STOEIES ABOUT BIRDS. 131 



pair. It may be tlie part of wisdom and kind- 

 ness to take care of the present generation of 

 exotic birds. But I do not see bow, on tbat 

 account, we get a license either to raise young- 

 birds to be confined, or to purchase them and 

 confine them. So much for birds which are 

 introduced into this country from abroad. 

 There is, of course, less excuse still for shutting 

 up our own native birds, than there is in the 

 case of those birds that are imported from for- 

 eign countries. 



I suppose I must not stop to plead any 

 longer for these captives. Perhaps I have 

 already said too much on the subject. But I 

 want you to read this touching appeal from a 

 canary bird — an appeal, b}^ the way, which was 

 put into the little songster's mouth by an es- 

 teemed friend and correspondent, Miss H , 



and by her furnished for my use : 



I wonder what my wings were made for, 

 Fluttering, active, restless things! 



If this cage is all of bird-land, 

 Tell me why a bird has wings. 



