FEBRUARY 67 



stature over a bird three inches and a half long, he 

 would have to travel 707 miles afoot in sixteen hours, 

 and repeat the performance on each of ten consecutive 

 days. 



I have referred elsewhere 1 at greater length to 

 Montagu's interesting observation ; I mention it again 

 to illustrate the suffering inflicted upon small birds by 

 confining them in narrow cages. What would be the 

 feelings, and what the effect upon the health of a man, 

 if he were locked up for life in a bedroom, fully dressed 

 in outdoor clothes which he could not cast off? Some 

 men are of sedentary habit, and might accommodate 

 themselves more or less to such imprisonment; but 

 constant exercise is essential to the well-being of all 

 finches, larks, and other passerine birds. Moreover, they 

 are subject, as man is not, to the seasonal migratory 

 impulse, and who shall declare what pangs they under- 

 go what gnawing nostalgic when they are prevented 

 from obeying it ? 



I have before me a couple of volumes on Cage Birds, 

 whereof the author (he shall be nameless, for I would 

 avoid personalities) sets out with the postulate that 

 ' birds, beasts, and flowers were sent for the use and joy 

 of man.' A pretty arrogant assumption this; but 

 suppose it granted, must it be taken as corollary that 

 man may rightly find 'use and joy' in prohibiting to 

 other creatures the use and joy of their special faculties ? 

 In birds these faculties are free flight and ceaseless 

 energy, the exercise which is denied them in cages. 



1 Memories of the Months, third series, pp. 45, 46. 



