EXOTIC BIRDS FOR BRITAIN 163 



actual number of individuals may be even less 

 than with us. In sparrows, for instance, of the 

 one common species, we are exceedingly rich ; but 

 in bird life generally, in variety of birds, espe- 

 cially in those of graceful forms and beautiful 

 plumage, we have been growing poorer for the 

 last fifty years, and have now come to so low a 

 state that it becomes us to inquire whether it is 

 not in our power to better ourselves. It is an 

 old familiar truth — a truism — that it is easier to 

 destroy than to restore or build up; nevertheless, 

 some comfort is to be got from the reflection that 

 in this matter we have up till now been working 

 against Nature. She loves not to bring forth 

 food where there are none to thrive on it; and 

 when our unconsidered action had made these 

 gaps, when, despising her gifts or abusing them, 

 we had destroyed or driven out her finer kinds, she 

 fell back on her lowlier kinds — her reserve of 

 coarser, more generalized species — and gave them 

 increase, and bestowed the vacant places which 

 we had created on them. What she has done she 

 will undo, or assist us in undoing; for we should 

 be going back to her methods, and should have 

 her with and not against us. Much might yet be 



