132 TEACHING CHILDREN TO BE HUMANE. 



in cruelty, but all are more or less ignorant and 

 thoughtless, and need to be carefully and patiently 

 taught the duty of kindness to all living creatures. 

 What constantly happens is this. A boy sees 

 something unusual flitting about in a tree ; he 

 wonders what it is, and, wishing to find put, he 

 naturally flings a stone at the object ; when the 

 coveted thing lies gasping at his feet he looks at it 

 a moment, and flings it aside. He knows nothing 

 about the harm he has done has no idea that he 

 has killed a bird that perhaps very rarely visits 

 our shores, and that may not be seen again for 

 years. Why, then, if we wish such rare visitants 

 to increase, do we not systematically teach our 

 boys and girls to watch and study the ways of 

 wild creatures, and feel some rational interest in 

 them, so that in consequence they may be drawn 

 to do what they can to aid in their preservation ? 

 The children need to be instructed about the life- 

 history of one bird after another ; information 

 should be given about its mode of life, its useful- 

 ness in destroying insects, its nesting habits, the 

 tender love between the mated birds, and their care 

 of their young defending them even at the risk of 



