SELBORNIANA 
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learn mercy, and that was at their mothers’ knees, and he 
trusted that among all the new provinces that they were 
entering witli a right that he did not question, they would 
not forget that province which had been specially theirs from 
time immemorial — the homes and the hearts of men. 
Sir E. Grey, M.P., agreed that sentiment was an excellent 
power when controlled and properly directed, but in all move- 
ments of that kind the greatest danger lay in the exaggeration 
of sentiment. The moment it departed from fact it raised up a 
great number of unjustifiable enemies. He asked them to look 
at this question from the point of view of common sense and 
expediency. They lived in a world where there was a great 
deal to admire and interest them, and they found that some of 
its best objects were in danger of extinction. If that happened, 
the world would become a poorer place, and it was their duty 
to endeavour to preserve all objects of interest for succeeding 
generations. Wild life was in danger of extinction. No doubt 
private collectors had done something to impair the number of 
rare and valuable species, and he thought that the provision of 
good public museums should be encouraged rather than private 
collections. But no amount of scientific research could be 
accused of the wholesale slaughter caused by the trade in 
birds and feathers for ornament. No one wished to oppose 
ornament simply because it was ornament, and in the case of 
the ostrich feather it had undoubtedly led to the preservation 
of the bird ; but they objected to wholesale slaughter under the 
most inhuman conditions. They should try to bring influence 
to bear on public discrimination to prevent this trade in feathers. 
He did not attribute the evil to deliberate vice, but to simple 
thoughtlessness and indifference ; and the remedy was to be 
found in getting people to take more interest in bird life and 
wild life round about their own homes. In considering this 
matter they must remember that now, in a stronger sense than 
ever, the great civilised nations were the trustees of the whole 
world. 
The Protection of Large Birds. — “ Verax ” writes; — 
“ May I be allowed through your columns to call attention to 
the ravages now committed amongst fruit by small birds. No 
one can be fonder of birds than I am. They are of great service 
in many ways to the fruit grower, and I have never coun- 
tenanced shooting or destroying them in any way. At the same 
time I cannot shut my eyes to the fact that their numbers are in 
some districts excessive, and that the damage done by them to 
fruit buds is becoming a serious matter. For the last two years 
there has been hardly a plum or pear in my orchard or garden, 
the buds having been ruthlessly stripped from the trees by the 
birds during the winter months. As to gooseberries, I find it 
impossible to grow them except under wire netting, and this last 
winter the birds even destroyed large quantities of the apple 
