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Dr. A. G. Butler,



result of this increasing weakness, in the frequent occurrence of

albinism in our wild birds : where formerly a white or pied bird was

regarded as a rarity, at the present time not a year passes in which

one does not see several in one’s own garden, while the records of

such aberrations appearing in papers devoted to birds are increasingly

frequent.


No good was ever done by man interfering, in attempts to

assist Nature ; he only succeeds in disturbing the balance of things:

if he would retain in the country the native birds which have been a

delight to all lovers of sweet sounds and chaste colours, let him do

his utmost to preserve for their use as many bird-sanctuaries as

possible and, if he will, put up numerous nesting-boxes for the use

of his feathered friends ; but, excepting in the case of rare and

occasional visitors to our shores, which ought to be allowed the

opportunity of rearing families amongst us, I believe firmly that,

in addition to the injury done by discouraging the study of Natural

History in the young, laws for the absolute preservation of all native

birds and for the prevention of their capture for observation in

aviaries, will not prove of any benefit to the birds themselves ; but

very much the reverse.


With regard to the feather trade, of course it needs super¬

vision in order to prevent the wholesale destruction of beautiful

species; but it has been proved in some cases that the accounts

published with a view to working upon the feelings of the soft¬

hearted have been greatly exaggerated. I cannot say that I like to

see feathers and bird-skins in ladies’ head-coverings ; it is a survival

of savagery, but if they must have them, domesticated birds assisted

by the dyer will always suffice to produce effects which should

rejoice the heart of even a queen of the cannibal islands. On the

other hand it must be borne in mind, as pointed out by Dr. A.

Menegaux in his admirable treatise entitled “ Bird Protection and

the Feather Trade ” that “ We must take our latter-day surround¬

ings into consideration and remember that we may not interfere

unduly with the means of livelihood now guaranteed for thousands

by the use of natural products. In Paris alone are more than 600


* Sampson Low, Marston & Co., Ltd. I have to thank Mr.


ALLEN SILVER for lending me this pamphlet.



