15 
The Rev. Dr. Finch expressed a hope that with the growth 
•of knowledge, and of better taste, we might gradually break through 
and abolish the bird-destroying customs of the present day, just as 
we have abolished many of the brutal pastimes of the early part of 
the century. (Hear, hear). He had been this year at Lord Lilford’s, 
where he heard of the lamentable paucity of goldfinches, referred 
to by the Chairman, and how much his Lordship deplored the 
little care which had been taken for their protection. The speaker 
fully appioved what Mr. Colam had said regarding schools, and 
was determined to do his best in the direction indicated, for the 
education of children was the only way to stop the horrible practices 
we heard of. Many young men in London have been accustomed, 
from their earliest days, to feel that their Sundays might be spent in 
excursions to the country, carrying linnets, blinded with hot needles, 
as decoy birds. These youths might have found a different mission 
in life, had they been brought under a humanizing influence when 
children. (Cheers). 
Signor Di Rossi Gallico spoke of Garibaldi’s love for free- 
bird life, as illustrated by his calling the attention of his staff to a 
bird’s song when marching to battle ; and encouraging the wild 
birds to enter his room when he lay on a sick bed at Caprera. 
History taught us that great men had been characterized by 
their love of birds, but he thought that the great men in the church 
and the clergy generally, failed in their duty on this question. (Hear, 
hear). There were sins of omission as well as commission, and 
the clergy might as well tell people to be cruel, as fail to reprove 
their cruelty. (Cheers). 
Mrs. Chaplin protested against the custom of keeping birds in 
cages ; she thought there should be a tax on caged birds, which 
would go far to stop the piercing of the eyes of linnets and the bird¬ 
trapping which they all lamented so much. 
The Rev. H. W. Turner (Rector of Sutton, Surrey), proposed 
a vote of thanks to the “ Royal Society for the Prevention of 
Cruelty to Animals,” for generously placing their rooms at the 
disposal of the Bird Society, and to the Chairman and other 
speakers, for their kindness in being present on this occasion.” 
Mr. Turner said that his diffidence in responding to the call made 
upon him, was increased by his belonging to a class which had been 
spoken of as habitually neglecting to do its duty. (Laughter). In 
his parish, the bird-catchers had made sad havoc among the song¬ 
birds, but he trusted that the work this Society was doing would 
bring about a change in public opinion, and put an end to bird¬ 
trapping. (Cheers). He believed that there had been recently a 
great extension of the principles of humanity, that consciences have 
been awakened and hearts enlarged, so that men now shrink from 
practices which formerly went unchallenged. Nevertheless, there 
was plenty of work yet to be done, and the best hopes for its success 
must lie in the education of the younger generation. (Applause). 
Mr. H. S. Salt (Hon. Secretary of the Humanitarian League, and 
author of the biography of Thoreau) said that the work of the League 
