i6o BIRDS IN TOWN AND VILLAGE 



that such an experiment was being conducted, and 

 that its chief object was to repair the damage that 

 has been done, would be wholly beneficial since it 

 would enhance the value in our eyes of our remaining 

 native rare and beautiful species, A large number of 

 our finer birds are annually shot by those who know 

 that they are doing a great wrong — ^that if their 

 transgression is not punishable by law it is really 

 not less grave than that of the person who maliciously 

 barks a shade tree in a park or public garden — ^but 

 who excuse their action by saying that such birds 

 must eventually get shot, and that those who first 

 see them might as well have the benefit. The 

 presence of even a small number of exotic species 

 in our woods and groves would no doubt give rise to 

 a better condition of things ; it would attract pubUc 

 attention to the subject ; for the birds that delight 

 us with their beauty and melody should be for the 

 public, and not for the few barbarians engaged in 

 exterminating them ; and the " collector " would 

 find it best to abandon his evil practices when it 

 once began to be generally asked. If we can spare 

 the rare, lovely birds brought hither at great expense 

 from China or Patagonia, can we not also spare our 

 own kingfisher, and the golden oriole, and the 

 hoopoe, that comes to us annually from Africa to 

 breed, but is not permitted to breed, and many other 

 equally beautiful and interesting species S" 



