18 The Bird 
return sooner or later to earth for rest and food, and thus 
all are at our mercy. 
Let us beware of needlessly destroying even one of 
the lives—so sublimely crowning the ages upon ages of 
evolving; and let us put forth all our efforts to save a 
threatened species from extinction; to give hearty aid 
to the last few individuals pitifully struggling to avoid 
absolute annihilation. 
The beauty and genius of a work of art may be recon- 
ceived, though its first material expression be destroyed; 
a vanished harmony may yet again inspire the composer; 
but when the last individual of a race of living beings 
breathes no more, another heaven and another earth 
must pass before such a one can be again. 
