26o Wild Bird Guests 



have laws which protect our birds, and that 

 there are penalties for the breaking of these laws. 

 Then, usually, there is in every colony of for- 

 eigners, at least one man of some influence who 

 has been here longer than the rest, who is better 

 educated, speaks English, and who is looked up 

 to as a counsellor and friend by his fellow-coun- 

 trymen. It is often wise to ask the cooperation 

 of this man, who should be glad to work with us 

 to prevent his friends from getting themselves 

 into serious trouble through the violation of 

 our laws. The editors of papers which circulate 

 among these people should always be willing to 

 help, and all contractors employing foreigners, 

 should, by the terms of their contracts or other- 

 wise, be made responsible for the safety of the 

 birds in the localities where their men are work- 

 ing. Illustrated lectures on the protection of 

 birds, if really convincing, are apt to do a lot of 

 good. Some time ago the writer tried the experi- 

 ment of giving a lecture before the members of a 

 colony of Italian workmen and their wives and 

 children. The lecture was given in English, of 

 which the audience knew little or nothing, but 

 by a logical series of pictures, accompanied by 

 gestures and changes in the tone of the voice, 

 they were made to follow the speaker with 

 intelligent interest, which was manifested by 



