NOVEMBER. 311 



gregated in winter, when they have no mates or 

 young ones to feel the effects of their loss, and are 

 ready for the table of the epicure, but who take 

 only singing birds, and take them too wherever and 

 whenever they can, without regard to their having 

 young, which may perish by their absence, or to 

 that harsh change, from the full enjoyment of 

 summer sunshine and pleasures to the captivity of 

 the cage ; when I see their nets spread in the fields, 

 where linnets, goldfinches, etc. resort to the seeds of 

 grass, plantain, sow-thistles, etc., I wish them all 

 manner of villanous ill-luck ; and I never omit a 

 favourable opportunity of deranging or destroying 

 limed twigs when they fall in my way. 



There are none of our customs which more mark 

 our selfishness than that of keeping singing birds in 

 perpetual confinement, making the pleasure of our 

 ears their misfortune, and that sweet gift, which 

 God has given them wherewith to make themselves 

 happy and the country delightful, the curse of their 

 lives. If we were contented, however, with taking 

 and rearing young ones, which never knew the 

 actual blessing of liberty, or of propagating them in 

 cages or aviaries, the evil would not be so enormous. 

 But the practice of seizing singing birds, which have 

 always enjoyed the freedom of the earth and air, in 

 summer when they are busy with the pleasant cares 

 of their nests or young broods, and subjecting them 

 to a close prison, is detestable doubly detestable in 

 the case of migratory birds. They have not merely 

 the common love of liberty, but the instinct of 



