BIRDS IN A VILLAGE 109 



It is true that the local authorities in some country 

 towns have made bye-laws to protect the birds in 

 their open spaces. Thus, at Tunbridge Wells, since 

 1890, bird-trapping and birds'-nesting have been 

 prohibited on the large and beautiful common 

 there ; but, so far as I know, such measures have 

 only been taken in boroughs after the birds have 

 been almost exterminated. 



Doubtless the day will come when, law or no law, 

 the bird-catcher will find it necessary to go warily, 

 lest the people of any place where he may be tempted 

 to spread his nets should have formed the custom 

 of treating those of his calling somewhat roughly. 

 That it will come soon is earnestly to be wished. 

 Nevertheless, it would be irrational to cherish 

 feelings of animosity and hatred against the bird- 

 catcher himself, the " man and brother," ready and 

 anxious as we may be to take the bread out of his 

 mouth. He certainly does not regard himself as an 

 injurious or disreputable person ; on the contrary, 

 he looks on himself as a useful member of the 

 community, and in some cases even more. If any 

 one is to be hated or blamed, it is the person who 

 sends the bird-catcher into the fields; not the 

 dealer, but he who buys trapped birds and keeps 

 them in cages to be amused by their twitterings. 

 This is not a question of morality, nor of senti- 

 mentality, as some may imagine ; but rather of 



