Preserve the Birds. 263 



multiply in precisely the degree that pains are taken to 

 protect the fruit by destroying the birds disposed to 

 attack it. The prudent man, instead of killing all he 

 can, knows that his best policy is so to alarm the invaders 

 that they shall go away of their own accord. Birds of a 

 feather not only flock together, but, as every ornithologist 

 knows full well, can confabulate. Warned by the dis- 

 charge of small shot such as will do them no harm, they 

 soon discern that mischief is brewing, and though, like 

 boys, they will "try it on" again, by and by they take 

 their departure, and conscience is not smitten with the 

 reflection that, after all, the poor creature was more of a 

 friend than an adversary. By killing off birds system- 

 atically, not to say malevolently and vindictively, those 

 who do so strive their best to exterminate a leading 

 section of the sanitary police of nature. No policy is 

 more short-sighted; it is the opprobrium of the present 

 day, and if persisted in will induce results that, when too 

 late, will be deplored. 



While speaking thus of the wanton destruction of birds, 

 let it be added that the words apply with equal force to 

 the wanton destruction of flowers and ferns. Gather 

 what can be applied to good and useful purposes, but no 

 more; and as regards roots, never dig up anything that 

 cannot be relied upon as quite sure to take kindly to the 

 garden or the rockery it is destined for. All true 

 naturalists love to contemplate Life, and living things, 

 and no one deserves the name who wilfully and wantonly 

 or even heedlessly puts things to death, or who treats 



