134 TEACHING CHILDREN TO BE HUMANE. 



facts about them which the children are able to 

 comprehend. 



I was delighted to receive from a dear unknown 

 child a capital drawing of a brambling which I 

 could recognise at once, so truthful was the pose 

 and colouring, and, though the young artist was 

 only eleven, his drawing and letter revealed a 

 born naturalist. Now this kind of effort might be 

 largely promoted amongst young people with 

 excellent effect. We should make a rule I have 

 myself observed all my life most carefully, " Never 

 to have a bird killed wantonly, even for drawing 

 or study purposes." There are admirable pictures 

 to be obtained of all our English birds, and, 

 with an occasional find of a dead bird, and the 

 glimpses we may obtain of them in life, these will 

 furnish enough to guide young artists in their first 

 attempts. Suppose the children of a village school 

 awakened to this kind of competition, and a " tea " 

 given to those who have sent in papers, I can see 

 the way to a delightful evening when the papers 

 should be read, comments kindly Offered, mistakes 

 corrected, information given, and some fresh sub- 

 jects set for the next time. The whole village 



