PEBKUAKY 67 



stature over a bird three inches and a half long, he 

 would have to travel 707^ miles afoot in sixteen hours, 

 and repeat the performance on each of ten consecutive 

 days. 



I have referred elsewhere ^ at greater length to 

 Montagu's interesting observation ; I mention it again 

 to illustrate the suffering inflicted upon small birds by 

 confining them in narrow cages. What would be the 

 feelings, and what the effect upon the health of a man, 

 if he were locked up for life in a bedroom, fully dressed 

 in outdoor clothes which he could not cast off? Some 

 men are of sedentary habit, and might accommodate 

 themselves more or less to such imprisonment; but 

 constant exercise is essential to the well-being of all 

 finches, larks, and other passerine birds. Moreover, they 

 are subject, as man is not, to the seasonal migratory 

 impulse, and who shall declare what pangs they under- 

 go — what gnawing nostalgic — when they are prevented 

 from obeying it ? 



I have before me a couple of volumes on Cage Birds, 

 whereof the author (he shall be nameless, for I would 

 avoid personalities) sets out with the postulate that 

 ' birds, beasts, and flowers were sent for the use and joy 

 of man.' A pretty arrogant assumption this; but 

 suppose it granted, must it be taken as corollary that 

 man may rightly find ' use and joy ' in prohibiting to 

 other creatures the use and joy of their special faculties ? 

 In birds these faculties are free flight and ceaseless 

 energy, the exercise which is denied them in cages. 



1 Memoriea of the Months, third aeries, pp. 45, 46. 



