IGNORANCE OF NATURAL HISTORY 



blind ; the true meaning being, that the white blind 

 should be afSfixed to the cage. 



This statement, in all probability, would be misunder- 

 stood, and without doubt led to the supposition that it 

 was necessary to blind the bird instead of the cage. 



In answer to a letter which is not dated I said : — 



"No one can be more delighted than I am at the efforts of 

 so many to prevent the cruelty that was and is still inflicted 

 upon the lower animals. 



"At the same time I cannot help expressing the disgust I feel 

 upon reading some of the statements that are from time to 

 time put forward, perhaps for a good purpose, but the effect is 

 painful and the statements untrue. The putting out of the 

 eyes of small birds with red-hot needles is one of these horrible 

 falsities. 



" I have been acquainted all my life with most of the bird- 

 catchers and bird-fanciers in England, and I can say, without 

 fear of contradiction, that no such practice does, or ever did, 

 exist, and that birds thus treated would die. It is entirely a 

 false and cruel invention of writers whom I shall call Shudder- 

 mongers." 



327 



