ELLIOTT COVES. 25 
cannot be repeated too often, or be too strenuously insisted, 
that interference with the established checks and balances 
of nature is always unwise, generally dangerous, and not _ 
seldom disastrous. It was done when rabbits were introduced 
in Australia, where they have become a national nuisance. 
It was done when we introduced the Sparrow—upon the 
misguided, ignorant representations of such a man as the 
late Dr. Thomas M. Brewer, against my vigorous and even 
vehement protestations. The result of placing this sturdy, 
turbulent, and fecund foreigner under conditions of environ- 
ment favorable to limitless multiplication, is before you in 
the shape of an ineradicable pest, beyond the reach of any 
law that could be devised, and against which we might as 
well invoke the thunders of the Vatican in hopes of scaring the 
Sparrow away. But in all, or nearly all, other cases, wise, 
sound, strong laws could and should be enacted by the 
legislature of every State and Territory in the Union, to 
regulate relations between feathered and featherless bipeds, 
for the benefit of each party to the transaction. Such laws, all 
agreeing in the spirit of enlightened selfishness, perhaps also 
colored with humane sentiment, would differ in the letter 
according to locality; and such difference as there should 
be, to provide for varying geographical factors in the 
problem, should be based upon expert ornithological opinion. 
Such scientific testimony being given due weight, regarding 
proper open and close seasons for game birds, regarding 
species which it shall be unlawful to kill at any season, re- 
garding species which may be killed at ali times, or whose kill- 
ing may be encouraged by proper provisions, the required laws 
cannot be made too stringently sweeping or too rigorously 
enforced by suitable penalties for their infraction, and 
requisite means of bringing offenders to justice. 
If any such legislation as I advocate be deemed advisable 
upon the utilitarian and even sordid considerations thus far 
advanced, how much more imperative will not the full re- 
quirements of this case appear, if we turn from any such 
