EXOTIC BIRDS FOR BRITAIN 159 



throughout the country but also among landlords 

 and sportsmen down in Essex, where the bird was 

 not regarded merely as fair game to be bagged, or 

 as a curiosity to be shot for the collector's cabinet, 

 but was allowed to fight its own fight without 

 counting man among its enemies. And it is to be 

 expected that the same self-restraint and spirit of 

 fairness and intelligent desire to see a favourable 

 result would be shown everywhere if exotic species 

 were to be largely introduced, and breeding centres 

 established in suitable places throughout the country. 

 When it once became known that individuals were 

 doing this thing, giving their time and best efforts, 

 and at considerable expense, not for their own selfish 

 gratification, but for the general good and to make 

 the country more delightful to all lovers of rural 

 sights and sounds, there would be no opposition, 

 but on the contrary every assistance, since all would 

 wish success to such an enterprise. Even the most 

 enthusiastic collector would refrain from lifting a 

 weapon against the new feathered guests from distant 

 lands ; and if by any chance an example of one should 

 get into his hands he would be ashamed to exhibit it. 

 The addition of new beautiful species to our 

 avifauna would probably not be the only, nor even 

 the principal benefit we should derive from the 

 carrying out of the scheme here suggested. The 

 indirect effect of the knowledge all would possess 



