A BI-MONTHLY MAGAZINE 



DKVOTED TO THE STUDY AND PROTECTION OF BIRDS 



Official Organ of the Audubon Societies 



Vol. IX September — October, 1907 No. 5 



Bird Protection in Italy as It Impresses the Italian* 



By FRANCIS H. HERRICK 



Author of 'The Home Life of Wild Birds' 



II 



THE question of protecting wild birds is usually discussed in relation to their 

 practical use to man, but, says Nigro Lico, there is also the question of 

 humanity to be considered. If we drop the consideration of real or 

 presumed usefulness, should the birds be protected out of regard for our esthetic 

 feelings and our duties to humanity? Upon this point Sig. Salvadori is again 

 quoted as follows: "As to the esthetic side of the question, I heartily agree that 

 the birds are an ornament to the woods and fields, but who could deny that the 

 butterflies are still more so ? Is it not a pleasure to see, in the spring time, and to 

 salute again the strawberry Colia, the gloomy Antiopa, the resolute lo, the great 

 Polidora, all of them harbingers of the mild season ? Why do we not dance with 

 joy when one after another are present on the scene — the silent Cavolaia, the 

 social Pieridi, the restless Arlecchino, the suberb Apollo, the grave Podalirio, the 

 playful Licene ? Why is it not a pleasure for whomsoever is not a stranger to 

 nature, to welcome these familiar friends, to study anew and to admire the varied 

 colors with which they are clothed, their manifold forms, properties, and habits ? 

 Unfortunately, all of these graceful and attractive creatures, which contribute so 

 much to the esthetic side of nature, all are more or less injurious and on this 

 account all are condemned to destruction." 



" In respect to humanity, I would like, moreover, to ask in turn, is it a humane 

 act, when, with a shot from a musket one brings down a Woodcock, a Partridge, or 

 Grouse; when, with its legs broken or its bill crushed or split, it is condemned to a 

 slow and painful death by hunger ? We bird hunters,at least, do not torture any of 

 our victims. Not a brief second passes between the shot and death. Why, on the 

 score of humanity, should we not also speak of a prohibition of hunting ? Such a 

 construction of the law would in no way, I believe, receive official sanction, and 

 further, I submit, it would be refused with entire reason." 



*The first part of Professor Herrick's Paper appeared in the July-August number of 

 Bird-Lore. 



