248 ADVENTURES AMONG BIRDS 



an "immortal bird/' and a "creature of ebullient 

 heart," it probably does not live nearly as long as our 

 brilliant little finch. Nor is it so prolific ; moreover it 

 nests upon or near the ground at the same spot year 

 after year, so that its breeding-place is known to every 

 human being in the neighbourhood, and on this ac- 

 count it is more exposed to the depredations of the 

 nest-robber than most small birds. The increase of 

 such a species, which must in any case be exceedingly 

 slow, can only come about by the fullest protection 

 during the breeding time. That is to say, protection 

 from human destroyers ; from wild animals and other 

 destructive agencies we cannot safeguard it. 



This infers a considerable change in the nature or 

 habits of the country boy, or the growth of a new 

 sentiment with regard to this species which would be 

 as great a protection to it as the sentiment about our 

 tame, familiar, universal robin has been to that bird. 

 But it is not a dream. I believe this change is being 

 wrought now in our " young barbarians " of the country 

 side ; that it is being brought about in many ways by 

 means of various agencies by an increased and increas- 

 ing number of lovers of animals and of nature, who in 

 towns and villages form centres of personal influence ; 

 by associations of men and women, such as the Bird Pro- 

 tection, the Selborne, and kindred societies ; by nature 

 study in the schools throughout the rural districts, 

 and by an abundant supply of cheap nature literature 

 for children. So cheaply are these books now pro- 

 duced that the very poorest children may have them, 



