ADDRESSES OF MAJOR LACEY 145 



full of the most beautiful looking apples. They were fair 

 to look upon, but were veritable "Dead Sea fruit." I 

 went around and offered them to my friend. He loves 

 apples as well as I love birds. He opened them. 



They were all perforated with the tunnels that the 

 worms had dug in passing through the fruit. I asked 

 him if he had ever seen that condition in apples when he 

 was a boy. He said no ; it was a recent thing. I inquired 

 whether he often saw an apple now that did not show the 

 foul track of a worm through its interior. He said, 

 "What of that?" "Well," said I, "my friend, the kill- 

 ing of the birds causes this condition — man kills the 

 birds that killed the insect that laid the egg that hatched 

 the worm that denied the apple. ' ' Thus following back in 

 something the fashion of "The House that Jack Built," 

 we reach the real cause of most of this trouble. The de- 

 struction of the insectivorous birds has resulted in the 

 loss of our fruit. No wonder the farmers and horticul- 

 turists are interested in this proposition ! 



Objection was made to this bill upon the theory that it 

 was a purely sentimental measure intended merely to 

 strike at bird millinery. Not so. It is true that there is 

 some sentiment in the bill ; and it is a proper, a legitimate 

 sentiment. The love of birds is something that ought to 

 be taught in every school. Their protection is something 

 that ought to be inculcated in the mind of every boy and 

 girl. I have always been a lover of the birds ; and I have 

 always been a hunter as well ; for today there is no friend 

 that the birds have like the true sportsman — the man 

 who enjoys legitimate sport. He protects them out of 

 season ; he kills them in moderation in season. The 

 "game hog" is an animal on two legs that is disappear- 

 ing. May he soon become extinct! The "game hog" 

 formerly had himself photographed surrounded by the 

 fruits of a day's "sport," and regarded the photograph 



