204 "THESE ARE YOUR BROTHERS." 



short madness differ from the sudden rage 

 which impels one to lift his hand against the 

 life of man, merely a (should be) nobler game ? 

 It seems even more strange that a gentle wo- 

 man can endure the beautiful plumage of a del- 

 icate winged creature, whose sweet life of song 

 and joy was rudely cut short by brutal men 

 that the poor dead body might shine among her 

 laces. For those who are willing to gratify 

 their palate at the cost of so much beauty and 

 music there is nothing to be said, they can- 

 not be reached. Not until man has outgrown 

 the barbarism of nourishing his body at the ex- 

 pense of his soul can we hope to touch those 

 who eat birds. It is sad enough to turn our 

 murderous weapons against the gentle ox that 

 trusts us, the innocent - faced sheep, and the 

 honest-eyed calf, but to rob the world of an in- 

 spiring robin or a rollicking bobolink, for the 

 small bits of flesh under their feathers, is too 

 pitiful. 



" Open your eyes to the evidence," says 

 Michelet. " Throw aside your prejudice, your 

 traditional and derived opinions. Dismiss your 

 pride, and acknowledge a kindred in which there 

 is nothing to make one ashamed. What are 

 these? They are your brothers." 



The following notes are based upon several 

 years' study of birds enjoying the freedom of a 



