92 OUTDOOR LIFE IN ENGLAND 



It would be well if the use of the catapult were 

 made illegal. Numberless birds are annually 

 surreptitiously slaughtered or crippled by means 

 of this detestable instrument. One of my garden 

 pets is a poor robin (of all birds one which should 

 receive all protection at our hands), which has 

 been thus crippled. Its leg, which has been 

 broken, is useless, and it is piteous to see the 

 poor little creature trying to balance itself, with 

 its broken limb outstretched behind, when it 

 comes to the window to be fed. If the wind is 

 ever so light, it is a matter of extreme difficulty 

 for it to stand at all. 



In the matter of birds'-nesting, we can all of 

 us afford to be somewhat lenient, for what boy is 

 able to resist the pleasure of making, or adding 

 to, a collection of birds' eggs ? It is rather the 

 wholesale abstraction of the eggs out of a nest 

 which should be strongly condemned, and very 

 much might, and should, be done towards the 

 prevention of this practice by the parents of the 

 boys when cognizant of the fact. More frequently 

 than not, when boys empty a nest they tear it 

 down and cast it ruthlessly away. It is truly sad 

 to see a newly-made nest thus lying on the 

 ground the snug little home, framed and com- 

 pleted with such marvellous skill, and with the 

 expenditure of so many hours of labour, cast aside 

 as a thing of naught ; nay, well-nigh as if it were 

 an offence. 



The summary of the new Act for the protection 



