FOREWORD xv 



Egypt ; even to-day there are sacred birds in many 

 parts of the world. 



Birds are naturally very friendly to man. With 

 the exception of certain peculiar species, they begin 

 to fear him only when they know him. When he 

 appears among the feathered denizens of unin- 

 habited regions, they look at him with astonishment 

 but not with fear. Auks and penguins of the Ant- 

 arctic could once be caught with the hand. There 

 are numerous instances of wild birds seeking human 

 protection when pursued by some relentless foe. 

 Sometimes they fly into houses for shelter; par- 

 tridges have been known to throw themselves at 

 the feet of woodsmen when hard pressed by a hawk. 



On man's behalf it must be said that he often 

 reciprocates this affection. He most often gives 

 animals friendship because of services which they 

 render him, but he gives birds his affection because 

 of his love for their companionship, quite as much 

 as for their charm and beauty. He likes to have 

 them about him ; he delights in their songs and the 

 exquisite colourings of their plumage. 



In fact, too often he grows unduly fond of this 

 plumage, and his wife covets the beautiful feath- 

 ers for her own decoration. Then it is that soulless 

 men go out and slaughter the unoffending songsters 

 by the thousands for their feathers, that they may 



