igo BIRDS IN TOWN AND VILLAGE 



general good, and to make the country more de- 

 lightful to all lovers of rural sights and sounds, 

 there would be no opposition, but on the contrary 

 every assistance, since all would wish success to 

 such an enterprise. Even the most enthusiastic 

 collector would refrain from lifting a weapon 

 against the new feathered guests from distant 

 lands; and if by any chance an example of one 

 should get into his hands he would be ashamed 

 to exhibit it. 



The addition of new beautiful species to our 

 avifauna would probably not be the only, nor 

 even the principal benefit we should derive from 

 the carrying out of the scheme here suggested. 

 The indirect effect of the knowledge all would 

 possess that such an experiment was being con- 

 ducted, and that its chief object was to repair 

 the damage that has been done, would be wholly 

 beneficial since it would enhance the value in our 

 eyes of our remaining native rare and beautiful 

 species. A large number of our finer birds are 

 annually shot by those who know that they are 

 doing a great wrong — that if their transgression 

 is not punishable by law it is really not less grave 

 than that of the person who maliciously barks a 



