5 
pleasures we enjoy, who live in the country, will be lost to us. I 
know of nothing so charming in life, so soothing and cheering as to 
listen to the songs of birds. (Cheers). Those who walk round 
about our sea coasts must be extremely shocked to see the wanton 
slaughter of sea birds that goes on, to see them shot at and often 
only wounded, and not even the slightest trouble taken in many 
instances to pick them out of their watery graves, where they flutter 
and linger perhaps for hours in untold agony. And even if the 
poor creatures are recovered they are useless for food, their lives 
having been sacrificed solely to afford a moment’s amusement to a 
so-called sportsman. Besides, it should be generally known that sea 
birds are great friends to the fisherman, because they point out 
where the fish may be found and where the rocks are. (Cheers). A 
few months ago we were visited by a flock of twenty-four wild 
swans, supposed to have come from Norway or Sweden. They 
descended on our wild and beautiful Northumberland lakes, but 
barely had they got there when the cry went forth, announcing 
their arrival, and everybody who could seize a gun went out even on 
Sunday mornings, in fact every available day was spent in worrying 
and destroying these poor swans until there was no longer any trace 
left of them. Last year a friend of mine was much interested in 
watching from time to time a pair of Kingfishers which had come 
to a stream near to where he lived. He used to take a pleasure in 
observing their movements every morning, but alas, the ruthless 
sportsman was at hand and soon the pretty feathered creatures were 
no more. My friend saw the culprit and remonstrated with him on 
his heartlessness, when the man replied :—“ I wanted them for my 
young woman’s ’at.” Now I quite believe that it is in the nature of 
things that ladies should like to look sweet and nice, and I am quite 
certain that we men like to see them look so, but I hope they will 
take my word for it that the wings and skins of birds stuck upon 
their heads are not ornamental to them. (Loud cheers). They 
certainly do not add to their beauty, and if we cannot appeal to 
their hearts, perhaps we may appeal to their vanity. But however 
it may be, ladies, whether I am right or wrong in thinking such 
displays unbecoming, I am quite sure that if we consult our better 
feelings, conscience, which is a safe guide in these matters, will tell 
us that we ought not wantonly to take away the lives of these 
beautiful creatures. (Cheers). I happened to be walking a few 
months ago in the Isle of Wight, where I was shocked to see the 
enormous destruction of bird life that had taken place there and was 
still going on. An instance illustrative of this occurs to my mind 
at this moment. A thrush was pouring forth melody from a neigh¬ 
bouring tree, suddenly a gun was levelled, but I am happy to say 
that on this occasion the bird escaped. Shortly after that I happened 
to see a man with a gun looking over a paling. I took the 
opportunity to say to him :—“ You are, I presume, one of those who 
“ are destroying all the little birds about this part,” to which he 
replied :—“ I have never seen so few as there are this year.” *• I 
4i don’t doubt it” said I, “ because it is such men as you who have 
