110 
BIRDS IN A VILLAGE. 
throughout the country, but also among landlords 
and sportsmen down in Essex, where the bh'd was 
not regarded merely as fair game to be bagged, or 
as a curiosity to be shot for the collector's cabinet, 
but was allowed to fight its own fight without 
counting man among its enemies. And it is to be 
expected that the same self-restraint and spirit of 
fairness and intelligent desire to see a favourable 
result would be shown everywhere, if exotic species 
were to be largely introduced, and breeding- centres 
established in suitable places throughout the 
country. When it once became known that in- 
dividuals were doing this thing, giving their time 
and best efforts, and at considerable expense, not 
for their own selfish gratification, but for the 
general good, and to make the country more de- 
lightful to all lovers of rural sights and sounds, 
there would be no opposition, but on the contrary 
every assistance, since all would wish success to 
such an enterprise. Even the most enthusiastic 
collector would refrain from lifting a weapon 
against the new feathered guests from distant 
lands ; and if by any chance an example of one 
should get into his hands he would be ashamed to 
exhibit it. 
The addition of new beautiful species to our 
avifauna would probably not be the only, nor even 
the principal, benefit we should derive from the 
