H 
schools, that answer makes the boys cheer as you have done ; then 
I apply the moral by asking—“Do you call that real humanity— 
the genuine article ? I don’t ; it is spurious ! Suppose the bird 
had been a hen, or of a species that never sing, like a pigeon, what 
would have happened ? It would probably have been maimed or 
killed. No ! You must go deeper than that for the true gem of 
humanity. It is not a question of music, but of what is right and 
what is wrong.” (Cheers). Yes, ladies and gentlemen, it is their 
capacity for feeling pain and pleasure that constitutes the claim that 
animals have on us, to be treated with justice, kindness and 
compassion. (Loud cheers). 
Mrs. Brightwen, (authoress of “ Wild Nature tamed by Kind¬ 
ness ,' }> ) expressed her concurrence with what had been said by Mr. 
Colam and Colonel Coulson, with legard to the deplorable tendency 
of the present age to destroy the bird life which gave so great a 
charm to country scenes. She thought that much might be done 
by all of us in our respective spheres. A good plan was to manage 
to have a few quiet talks with boys and girls, between school hours,, 
on this subject ; not set lectures, but something more in the shape 
of conversational meetings. If children were taught some of the 
important truths of Natural History, the interesting habits of 
animals, and their value to mankind, in our schools, boys and girls 
would be less likely to indulge in the many acts of cruelty for which 
they are now responsible. (Cheers). The opportunity is lost if we 
wait until the boy has left school If schoolmasters could be induced 
to hang up and explain pictures, like those she exhibited to the 
meeting, words of warning and instruction would have greater 
weight. The speaker referred, in very laudatory terms, to Miss Edith 
Carrington’s pamphlet on the “ Extermination of Birds,” and 
especially recommended the use of artificial, instead of real eggs, for 
collections, as therein described. 
The motion was carried nem. con. 
Mr. Lfmon read a letter from the President of the Society, 
her Grace the Duchess of Portland, expressing regret at being 
unable to attend the meeting, and “the heartiest sympathy” with 
“the good cause in which it is held.” The Earl of Onslow was 
prevented from attending by being under an engagement to speak 
at a political meeting, held at the same time. Lord Lilford expressed 
his unfailing interest in the Society, and wished for a verbatim 
report of the proceedings of the meeting. The Bishop of Durham, 
Bishop Barry, Lord Wolseley, Sir John Lubbock, Hon. Henry 
Cubitt, M.P., F. C. Frye, Esq., M.P., H. Seton Karr, M.P., Lady 
Lyell and others had written, explaining their non-attendance, in 
terms of sympathy and goodwill. Mr. Lemon proceeded to state 
that Mr. Hudson was writing a pamphlet on “ Lost British 
Birds ” for the Society, and had brought with him the drawings 
which Mr. McCormick had made for its illustration. They were 
very beautiful, and would be laid on the table for inspection after 
the meeting. They were too delicate and precious to permit of 
their being handed round. 
