84 FRANCIS ORPEN MORRIS 



His graphic picture of the scene I must, however, 

 leave to the reader of the book itself. 



From time to time, in the course of writing their 

 history, he could not forbear giving vent to his feel- 

 ings against those who would persecute and wantonly 

 destroy these happy feathered creatures in all their 

 natural beauty. A more determined and formal 

 crusade against bird murder was vigorously carried 

 on by him in later years, to which allusion will be 

 presently made, but it is not without interest to notice 

 in passing with what fervour and feeling he now and 

 again defends his friends against their enemies in the 

 pages of the "History of British Birds." In the ac- 

 count of the Tawny Owl, for instance, he character- 

 istically and touchingly begins his article thus : 



" Here is another victim of persecution ! Were 

 it not for the friendly shelter of the night and the 

 fostering care of some few friends, where is the Owl 

 that would be able to maintain a place among the 

 1 Feathered Tribes' of England? Their passports 

 are invariably sent to them in the form of cartridge- 

 paper ; a double-barrelled gun furnishes a ready 

 ' missive,' their ' conge ' is given with a general 

 < discharge,' and the unoffending, harmless, nay, 

 useful bird is ordered for ever to 'quit.' His 

 family are not permitted to hold their own, but are 

 themselves outlawed and proscribed ; their dwelling 

 is confiscated, a ' clearance ' is effected, and if there 

 are a wife and children, ' alack for woe ! ' They 

 are carried into captivity. You have my pity, at 

 all events, l Bonny Brown Owl/ and, believe me, 



