42 
NATURE NOTES. 
in the duty of kindness to all living creatures. What constantly 
happens is this. A boy sees something unusual flitting about in 
a tree; he wonders what it is, and, wishing to learn, he naturally 
flings a stone at the object ; when the coveted thing lies gasping 
at his feet, he looks at it a moment and flings it aside. He 
knows nothing about the harm he has done ; he has no idea that 
he has killed a bird that perhaps very rarely visits our shores, 
and that may not be seen again for years. 
\\’hy, then, if we wish such visitants to increase, do we not 
systematically teach our boys and girls to watch and study the 
waj’s of wild creatures, and feel some rational interest in them, 
so that in consequence they may be drawn to do what the)' can 
to aid in their preservation ? 
If some competent person in each country village would but 
gather the children together as often as possible and talk to them 
pleasantly and kindly about the life-history of one bird after 
another, giving details of its mode of life, its usefulness in 
destroying insects, its nesting-habits, the tender love between 
the mated birds, and their care of their young, defending them 
even at the risk of their own lives if needful, surely the impres- 
sible hearts of children might be led to pity and protect our 
feathered friends. 
Leaflets on natural history and kindness to animals and birds 
can be obtained very cheaply from the Societ)' for Prevention of 
Cruelty to Animals, the Society for the Protection of Birds, and 
the “ Dicky-bird ” Societ}', and these should be scattered broad- 
cast throughout our land, and cannot fail to do beneficent work. 
If coloured prints of our common birds were hung up in village 
schools, and simple explanatory lessons were given upon them, 
it would surel}' be more useful to young rustics than that the)’ 
should know the exact difference between the Indian and African 
elephant ! Yet one often sees large pictures of foreign animals 
in schools, and not often anything so simple as prints of the 
creatures the children meet with in every-day life. 
Again, small prizes might be offered for the best papers on our 
English birds, and all the items about them that can be obtained. 
Not long since I was delighted to receive from a dear unknown 
child a capital drawing of a brambling which I could recognise 
at once, so truthful was the pose and colouring ; and though the 
young artist was only eleven, his drawing and letter revealed a 
born naturalist. Now this kind of effort might be largely pro- 
moted amongst young people with excellent effect, ^^'e should 
make the rule I have myself observed all my life most carefully, 
“ never to have a bird killed wantonly, even for drawing or study 
purposes.” 
There are admirable lithographs to be obtained of all our 
English birds, and these, with an occasional find of a dead bird, 
and the glimpses we may obtain of them in life, will furnish 
enough to guide quite young artists in their first attempts. 
Let us suppose a national school awakened to this kind of 
