EXOTIC BIRDS FOR BRITAIN 187 



of "studying ornithology/' which is not in har- 

 mony with our humane civilization, it is to be 

 hoped that a better method will be adopted — 

 that "finer way'' which Thoreau found and put 

 aside his fowling-piece to practise. There can be 

 no doubt that the desire for such an improvement 

 is now becoming very general, that a kindlier feel- 

 ing for animal, and especially bird life is grow- 

 ing up among us, and there are signs that it is 

 even beginning to have some appreciable effect. 

 The fashion of wearing birds is regarded by 

 most men with pain and reprobation; and it is 

 possible that before long it will be thought that 

 there is not much difference between the action of 

 the woman who buys tanagers and humming-birds 

 to adorn her person, and that of the man who 

 kills the bittern, hoopoe, waxwing, golden oriole, 

 and Dartford-warbler to enrich his private col- 

 lection. 



A few words on the latest attempt which has 

 been made to naturalize an exotic bird In England 

 will not seem out of place here. About eight 

 years ago a gentleman in Essex introduced the 

 rufous tinamou — a handsome game bird, nearly 

 as large as a fowl — into his estate. Up till the 



