SOCIETY FOR THE PROTECTION OF BIRDS. 
FOUNDED FEBRUARY, 1889. 
'J-'HE Society for the Protection of Birds has been called into 
existence by the pitiless destruction which has for long past been 
carried on all over the world, hundreds of thousands being sacrificed 
yearly, especially during the nesting-season, to supply the demands of a 
barbarous fashion in dress and decoration. 
For this ignoble object many species of beautiful, useful, and 
melodious birds are being massacred almost to extermination. The 
world at large can ill spare the brightness and song, which are lost by 
the destruction of the rarer species, while agricultural districts are 
specially injured by the diminution of the commoner kinds provided 
by nature as the great insect and grub destroying agency ; an agency 
for which human science can furnish no efficient substitute. 
“ There is , 55 Dr. Talmage writes, “ only one weapon that has ever 
been formed powerful enough to wage successful war on whole species 
of destructive animalculae, and that is—a bird’s beak.” 
The object of the Society is to preserve this valuable weapon, and 
generally to endeavour to stay, or at least to diminish, the wanton 
slaughter and waste of the exquisite and varied bird-life, designed, we 
humbly believe, by the Creator for the help and solace of man. 
