January i, 189 1] 



THE HUMMING BIRD. 



prohibit partially the killing of birds in certain seasons 

 and totally the destruction of Eggs; as also the killing 

 of all the species of Warblers, and some of the 

 Passeres, which are quite indispensable to Agricul- 

 ture. 



It would be very convenient to make a list of the 

 species which could be killed and those which must 

 be preserved at all costs, and I will help with pleasure 

 to do so. 



Even in Europe it is well known that certain species 

 of birds are so numerous that it is a good thing to de- 

 stroy some to make room for others. Ex. Quails, when 

 coming back from Africa, Crows, Magpies, Black- 

 birds, Thrushes, etc., etc., etc. 



To be continued. 



SCIENCE AND ART. 

 The Mackinley Bill. 



The United States of America, a country which can 

 boast of a population over 60 millions after a Century 

 since its independence, must be surely the Country of 

 the future ; but it is rather astonishing that in the 

 middle of such a prosperity such a bill as the Mackinley 

 one has found so many supporters ; but fortunately 

 I hope it has not the majority of the country, because 

 it is a very good thing to be self protecting, but it is 

 better yet to think of the welfare of all, instead of pro- 

 tecting a few individuals only. Since partial free trade 

 has been established in England, every one can see 

 that the majority of the population cloth and feed 

 better than before, and the principal ports of England 

 have become the principal Entrepots of Europe. Every 

 day you can see in the steamers running between 

 England and France, Belgium, and Germany, mer- 

 chants coming to London to attend the public sales 

 which are daily made at the Docks of all the products 

 of the world, and buying extensively. 



Why is this ? Of course because the custom duties 

 and dock charges are much lower than in any other 

 ports of Europe. 



If there was an increase of duty to-morrow all these 

 goods would go to other ports and England would 

 lose greatly by it. Not only a great profit arises to 

 England from these sales; but all sorts of goods, eatable 

 or otherwise, being introduced in large quantities, the 

 general public profit by it, having many neccessaries 

 of life at a very reasonable price, which was not so 

 some forty years back. 



I am sorry to say that the United States is the 

 only Country in the world where objects of natural 

 history for scientific purposes pay a custom duty rather 

 high. Not even in Congo or Gaboon such a thing 

 •exists. It is free everywhere in all parts of the ïvorld 

 excepting the United States. I call it a shame 

 and a bad calculation, as every obstacle put in the 

 way of scientific researches must result against the 

 country which make use of them, and I hope that the 

 Government of the United States will repel the said 

 duty as soon as they possibly can. Again with the 

 objects of Art. It is the same. 



Do you not see, Citizens of America, that now that 

 you are prosperous and wealthy you are bound to 

 protect Art and Science as well as Industry. 



You are forward as an industrial and agricultural 

 Country, but although you have some very good men 

 in Science and in Art you cannot yet struggle suc- 

 cessfully against the old World, and it is in your interest 

 to develop and facilitate scientific and artistic studies 

 everywhere, so as to reach perfection in everything, * 

 and this can only be done in being very liberal with 

 all what is connected with Science and Art. 



You have a great advantage on all the other 

 Countries, being able to make use of the experience 

 of all forerunners ; but there are things which only 

 time can procure and artistic taste is one of them. It 

 requires a long time to develop fully artistical tastes 

 in a new country, and it is quite time to begin, and I 

 hope that you will take the hint given by an admirer 

 of your great Country. A. B. 



The Panama Canal. 



By A. Boucard. 



The last fall in the prices of the Shares and Bonds 

 of tk 4 Panama Canal induces me to say a few words 

 on this great industrial undertaking which will be one 

 of the marvels of the World when completed. Suez 

 Canal is nothing compared with the Panama Canal, 

 and although Suez is a magnificent work on all aspects, 

 uniting Europe with the old World of Asia, Panama 

 has a still greater future before it, because A?7ierica, 

 from Oregon to Cape Horn and Australia are the 

 Countries of the future. 



Before long these countries will be very thickly 

 populated, very rich, and will be the refuge for several 

 hundred years yet of all courageous families who can 

 scarcely earn enough to live in the old Continent. 

 We can easily see the day when America and Australia 

 will be inhabited all over with a population of several 

 hundreds of millions. The Pacific Coast from Oregon 

 to Chili, which is very fertile, is scarcely populated at 

 present ; but not many years will pass without a great 

 change is made in that respect. Thence it will prove 

 one of the best customers of the Panama Canal. From 

 Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia, New Guinea, 

 Japan, etc., etc., they are bound to send their goods 

 by that Canal, because if in several instances it don't 

 shorten much the distance, a great consideration must 

 be taken of the facility of crossing the Pacific Ocean. 

 There is much less danger to life by the Pacific than 

 by the Indian Seas, and the currents are very favour- 

 able to navigation either in going or in returning. 



I have nothing to say against the actual price of the 

 Shares, because virtually speaking, since the declara- 

 tion of non-payment of the Coupons to the Bond- 

 holders, which are in 'fact Mortgagees of the Canal and 

 all its accessories, they have lost all their value and I 

 don't see any possibility whatever that they can get 

 anything at any time; but it is not so with the 

 Bonds. 



All what exists belongs to them, and I append a 

 Memorandum of the Assets which existed in May, 1890. 



