EXOTIC BIRDS FOR BRITAIN 157 



which is not in harmony with our humane civili- 

 zation, it is to be hoped that a better method will be 

 adopted that " finer way " which Thoreau found 

 and put aside his fowling-piece to practise. There 

 can be no doubt that the desire for such an improve- 

 ment is now becoming very general, that a kindlier 

 feeling for animal, and especially bird life, is grow- 

 ing up among us, and there are signs that it is even 

 beginning to have some appreciable effect* The 

 fashion of wearing birds is regarded by most men 

 with pain and reprobation ; and it is possible that 

 before long it will be thought that there is not much 

 difference between the action of the woman who 

 buys tanagers and humming-birds to adorn her 

 person, and that of the man who kills the bittern, 

 hoopoe, waxwing, golden oriole, and Dartford 

 warbler to enrich his private collection* 



A few words on the latest attempt which has been 

 made to naturalize an exotic bird in England will 

 not seem out of place here* About eight years ago 

 a gentleman in Essex introduced the rufous tinamou 

 a handsome game bird, nearly as large as a fowl 

 into his estate* Up till the present time, or till 

 quite recently, these birds have bred every year, and 

 at one time they had increased considerably and 

 scattered about the neighbourhood* When it began 

 to increase, the neighbouring proprietors and sports- 

 men generally were asked not to shoot it, but to give 



