48 



North Germany, nine out of ten of the boxes being tenanted by 

 Tits, which had previously been rare in the district. The fact 

 that in Hungary the manufacture of artificial nesting-boxes has 

 actually been started under Government support, while there 

 are several factories in Germany and at least one in Switzerland, 

 sufiiciently indicates the importance which is elsewhere attached 

 to a branch of the study of bird-protection which is with us still 

 in its infancy.* 



When we make laws to regulate bird life we must remember 

 that the selection of one species for special preservation, or 

 another for destruction, is an act which entails no slight re- 

 sponsibility, for it is a very dangerous thing to upset the balance 

 of Nature. It is easy to do it, but it is supremely difficult to 

 accurately estimate the results. Destroy one species and another 

 may become too numerous. If a species becomes too numerous 

 for its means of subsistence, it is either apt to change its habits 

 and devote its attention to some new article of diet, or it may 

 have to spread to new districts where its presence is not desirable. 

 Birds of prey are in most cases considered harmful ; many 

 kinds have been practically exterminated in this country chiefly 

 omng to the ignorance of game-keepers. To what extent the 

 vole plague, which did such damage in South Scotland in 1892, 

 was due to the destruction of Hawks and Owls and Weasels 

 we cannot tell, but the Report of the Departmental Committee 

 of the Board of Agriculture, after taking the evidence of a large 

 number of persons on the subject, stated that " nearly every 

 witness who was examined " gave it as his belief that the out- 

 break was due to the destruction of the natural enemies of the 

 voles. t Now, the only object of those who destroyed the 

 " vermin " was no doubt the preservation of game ; the devas- 

 tation of large tracts of land by voles probably never entered 

 their minds as a possible result of their action. Such matters 

 cannot be successfully studied from a single point of view ; on 

 the other hand they cannot be studied in all their aspects, for 

 there is no limit to their number. For the better protection of 

 birds in general and the prevention of their senseless destruction 

 there is no doubt that education may be an important factor. 

 Boys are born hunters ; their natural instincts lead them to 

 destroy. And whether a boy is destined to become a jockey, 

 jeweller, bookmaker, bishop, poet or politician, much good can 

 be done by training him to acquire a proper attitude towards 

 Nature. The importance of education in this respect was pubhcly 



* In connection with this matter see " How to Attract and Protect Wild 



Birds," by M. Hiesemaim (London), 1908. 

 t p. VIII. of Report. 



