L 3 ] 
into account the prejudices which exist where real or 
fancied injury lias been suffered. 
Secondly, if a bird must he destroyed, in the name 
of Mercy as well as of Justice, great care ought to he 
exercised that the sentence, whether of death to an 
individual or diminution of a tribe, shall he so carried 
out as not to cause unnecessary suffering or to 
include any hut the really guilty. We haye laws 
to prevent cruelty to both birds and beasts, but 
where wild birds are concerned much still remains to 
be done to remove reproach in our methods of 
making war upon them. It may become necessary 
to thin down the numbers of some species which 
have increased inordinately. In doing so, it is often 
the case that many other species that should un¬ 
doubtedly be preserved fall victims, and this is more 
than regrettable. There are many ways by which birds 
are diminished in numbers—by guns, nets, traps, and 
poison, for instance—and not only in the use of these 
methods, but as regards the persons empowered to 
use them, there should be strict limitations and 
restrictions consistent with humanity and common 
sense. 
Common Sense : yes, if needs be, and sentence has 
to be passed upon some particular species of bird for 
its misdeeds, there are generally, if not always, 
extenuating circumstances to be urged, and reasons 
to be weighed by common sense why the sentence 
should not be carried out in too vigorous a manner. 
The exceptional increase of certain birds, as, for 
instance, the House-Sparrow, may be due to our own 
interference with the balance of Nature; but as 
we cannot now restore that balance, it is necessary 
