BIKDS AND FLOWEKS. 
PART II— BIRDS. 
CHAPTER I. 
INTRODUCTORY. 
1 T is hard to say, in the country, whether 
birds or flowers are the pleasantest to 
possess. Some, I suppose, like birds best, 
and others prefer flowers ; and as for me, 
I generally managed to have both. 
There is a wide difference though between 
keeping birds in cages, and having a gay garden. 
If we neglect the garden, the worst thing that 
happens is a large crop of weeds and general 
desolation ; but if we neglect live creatures, the 
torture that we inflict on them is such that I am 
sure we should be quite wretched ever to think of 
causing it. Fancy a poor little pet bird, who is 
i 2 
