120 ORNITHOLOGY IN OUR COMMON SCHOOLS. 
memories. Such lessons would lead to an intelligent and 
discriminating regard for things. Some contend that every- 
thing was created for some useful purpose—a little girl de- 
claring that mosquitoes were of use, since they “ made things 
lively.” Certainly many things seem designed to awaken 
opposition, and arouse indignation. Such are the venomous 
reptiles ; and, in a milder way, noxious weeds of the field. 
If in Egypt birds have been worshipped ; if in some oriental 
countries even venomous reptiles have been regarded with 
awe, we have reached a better era of discrimination. Some 
living things are to be destroyed—yes, exterminated. It is 
not cruel, but humane, to destroy venomous serpents, nor 
does such destruction develop a cruel disposition. If a 
mother destroys a wild beast that threatens the life of her 
child, does she on that account think any less of her child? 
Indeed she thinks still more of her child and all other 
children as well. Ifa child rescues her Canary-bird from 
the attack of a Hawk, does she think any less of song-birds? 
If a boy slaughters House Sparrows as the common enemy 
of song-birds, does he thereby become cruel? Quite the 
contrary; he becomes more merciful and kind toward the 
objects he seeks to protect. 
