NOVEMBER. 291 



no mates or young ones to feel the effects 

 of their loss, and are ready for the table of the 

 epicure, but who take only singing' birds, and 

 take them too wherever and whenever they can, 

 without regard to their having young, which 

 may perish by their absence, or to that harsh 

 change, from the full enjoyment of summer sun- 

 shine and pleasures to the captivity of the cage. 

 When I see their nets spread in the fields, 

 where linnets, goldfinches, etc. resort to the 

 seeds of grass, plantain, sow-thistles, etc., I 

 wish them all manner of villanous ill-luck ; and 

 I never omit a favourable opportunity of de- 

 ranging or destroying limed twigs when they 

 fall in my way. 



There are none of our customs which more 

 mark our selfishness than that of keeping sing- 

 ing birds in perpetual confinement, making the 

 pleasure of our ears their misfortune, and that 

 sweet gift, which God has given them, where- 

 with to make themselves happy, and the country 

 delightful, the curse of their lives. If we were 

 contented, however, with taking and rearing 

 young ones, which never knew the actual bless- 

 ing of liberty, or of propagating them in cages 

 or aviaries, the evil would not be so enormous. 

 But the practice of seizing singing birds, which 

 have always enjoyed the freedom of the earth 

 and air, in summer when they are busy with 



