54 



BIRDS NESTS. 



taken with the knowledge of the parent birds, 

 they altered their minds, and thought that a 

 knowledge of birds' eggs thus made a branch 

 of Natural History, and studied in such a way 

 as to avoid the least approach to cruelty was 

 not only harmless in itself, but might teach 

 young persons to be considerate in all their 

 dealings with others. Mr. Miller, too, was of 

 opinion that if a boy, in spite of his eagerness 

 after birds' nests, could be taught to deny 

 himself the possession of an egg altogether, if 

 he could not obtain it without being cruel, he 

 was actually learning a lesson in humanity. 



