210 BIRD BENEFITS. 



being allowed, with as little interference as possible, to discharge 

 the various offices for which they are specially designed and 

 qualified. The petition presented some time since to the French 

 Corps Ldgislatif, requesting that steps might be taken to preserve 

 the birds which subsist on insects injurious to agriculture, has 

 excited great attention, not only in France, but throughout 

 Europe, and there can be no doubt that the many striking facts 

 which it contains will open the eyes of our agriculturists to the 

 fact that in slaughtering the insectivorous birds they have really 

 been destroying their best friends. In this instance, as in many 

 others, it will be found that an enlightened self-interest is in per- 

 fect keeping with the most humane and careful regard for what, 

 if we only knew them better, we should universally regard as 

 our Feathered Friends. 



