i jo TEACHING CHILDREN TO BE HUMANE. 



with reference to information about animals and 

 birds : we can prevent a great deal of cruelty 

 being unintentionally shown towards the useful 

 creatures that serve us in so many ways by using 

 our influence wisely in the village schools and in 

 the houses of the children's parents. 



If some one in each country village would but 

 gather the children together as often as possible, 

 and talk to them pleasantly and kindly about the 

 right treatment of horses, asses, dogs, cats, birds, 

 &c., the little lads who will grow up to be 

 grooms, ostlers, and carters, would be likely to 

 remember the teaching they receive, and carry it 

 out in humane treatment of the animals under 

 their charge. I dare not repeat what I know of 

 the cruelties practised by young boys upon birds 

 and their nestlings in the breeding season, but will 

 at any rate try and show some of the motives that 

 lead young people to persecute birds and destroy 

 their eggs. I would classify these motives thus : 

 first, wanton mischief ; secondly, ignorance ; and 

 thirdly, collecting mania. The two first mostly 

 influence the poor, and the last the richer classes. 

 I will endeavour to suggest remedies for each. 



