IRatuie IRotes : 
Zbc Selbovne Society’s (IDaoasine 
No. 51. MARCH, 1894. VoL. V. 
HOW TO PROTECT BIRDS. 
S the season for bird-nesting and egg-stealing approaches, 
Selbornians may be glad to have presented to them a 
few practical suggestions. If these can be put in such 
a way as to bear upon the children, rich and poor, with 
whom we are brought in contact, they may tend to the protec- 
tion of our native birds. We must look at the motives that lead 
young people to persecute birds and destroy their eggs if we would 
arrive at the best means of restraining them. 
I would classify their motives thus — first, wanton mischief; 
secondly, ignorance ; thirdly, the collecting mania. The two 
first mostly influence the poor, and the last the richer classes. 1 
will endeavour to suggest remedies for each. 
Mischievous country lads may be in some measure restrained 
by bills posted freely about in their village stating clearly the 
penalties for taking nests and eggs, with a list also of protected 
birds. These notices should be couched in plain words that 
children can clearly understand, and not after the style of a 
warning-board which was intended to protect a spring of pure 
water for village use, the wording of which ran thus : — 
“ Persons are requested to refrain from polluting or con- 
taminating this water.” 1 am afraid the rustic “ Tommy ” 
was not much enlightened by these formidable terms. Any 
proved case of pure mischief or cruelty shown towards any 
living creature should be made a serious offence, rebuked 
openly in the village schools, and spoken about to the parents 
by the clergy and others ; in this way public opinion may, by 
degrees, be created, and any child so offending may learn 
that he or she is in disfavour for such acts. 
It may be that only a few children out of a whole school have 
a disposition which delights in cruelty, but all are more or less 
ignorant and thoughtless, and need careful patient teaching 
