222 Cruelty to Birds 



high, a branch of a tree, from the twigs of which, hung 

 by their necks, were perhaps a couple of dozen dead 

 robins ! The graceful little figure pushed her way 

 through the crowd, in at the church door, up the aisle 

 to the front of the altar, where her offering was duly 

 received, and where she, like the rest, kissed the glass 

 of a tawdry casket, immediately underneath which 

 grinned the skull of the village saint. 



Two priests were standing close to me in the 

 crowd without. I asked them whether they approved 

 of such an offering as had just been proffered. 



" Certainly," was the answer ; " why not ? " 



I explained to them how unnecessary and indeed 

 cruel it seemed to an Englishman. 



They shrugged their shoulders ! 



I asked them whether it seemed good for children 

 to be brought up with the idea that God's creatures 

 were intended only for killing and eating. 



They answered that all these things have been 

 given for our use, and by their tone and manner 

 plainly showed that they encouraged such destruc- 

 tion. 



It is evident that all things being given for our 

 use, doesn't necessarily mean for our mouth and for 

 destruction. 



I didn't altogether relish the netting of the quails 

 on Capri, which was in full swing during my visit. 



The poor birds, migrating at night, and exhausted 

 with their long flight over the sea, drop into the nets 

 spread all ready to catch them. 



This certainly seems a mean trick to play on them, 



