EXOTIC BIRDS FOR BRITAIN. 
Ill 
carrying out of the scheme here suggested. The 
reflex effect of the knowledge all would possess 
that such an experiment was being conducted, and 
that its chief object was to repair the damage that 
has been done, would be wholly beneficial, since 
it would enhance the value in our eyes of our 
remaining native rare and beautiful species. A 
large number of our finer birds are annually shot 
by those who know that they are doing a great 
wrong — that if their transgression is not punish- 
able by law it is really not less grave than that 
of the person who maliciously barks a shade tree 
in a park or public garden — but who excuse their 
action by saying that such birds must eventually 
o-et shot, and that those who first see them might 
as well have the benefit. The presence of even 
a small number of exotic species in our woods 
and groves would no doubt give rise to a better 
condition of things ; it would attract public atten- 
tion to the subject ; for the birds that delight us 
with their beauty and melody should be for the 
public, and not for the few barbarians engaged 
in exterminating them ; and the " collector " would 
find it best to abandon his evil practices when 
it once began to be generally asked, If we can 
spare the rare, lovely birds brought hither at 
great expense from China or Patagonia, can we 
not also spare our own kingfisher, and the golden 
