CHAPTEK XXVI 



THE PROTECTOR OF BIRDS 



IGNORANCE is the parent of cruelty. As Audubon 

 studied the bird world his tenderness toward the winged 

 inhabitants of the air grew. He had no camera, but he 

 spared the birds and animals that he made his specimens 

 needless pain. He came to see the rights of all creatures 

 as an unwritten law. 



Audubon was a master of vivid writing; he almost 

 equaled his friend, Washington Irving. 



One of the most powerful passages in his works repre- 

 sents the wicked work and heartlessness of the egg-hunters 

 of Labrador. It is worthy of being spoken of at meetings 

 of the Audubon societies, for it shows the true natural- 

 ist's heart in its indignation against cruelty to the dumb 

 creation : 



" See yon shallop shyly sailing along; she sneaks like 

 a thief, wishing, as it were, to shun the very light of 

 heaven. Under the lee of every rocky isle some one at the 

 tiller steers her course. 



" Were his trade an honest one he would not think of 

 hiding his back behind the terrific rocks that seem to have 



