252 
BIRD-LIFE. 
many thousand thalers ; and insect-vermin got the upper 
hand ! “ Frederick then wisely withdrew his hand from 
the tiller of Creation’s harmonious work, where he 
thought he might meddle with impunity. He counter¬ 
manded his orders, and was, moreover, obliged to import 
Sparrows, which were now preserved.” 
Now-a-days, war is no longer waged against the 
Sparrow, though a number of other highly useful 
birds are still subject to persecution. Without any 
reflection we destroy their breeding-places by wholesale ; 
and the birds themselves are pursued, harried, and 
destroyed, in the most wicked manner possible, thus 
driving them to emigrate to happier regions. The 
result of such conduct is only too easily to be seen 
in the works written by the forest authorities, or may, 
without difficulty, be recognized in many other ways. 
Plagues of caterpillars are more frequent, and their 
devastations are more felt; mice are the victors in 
their wars with us. Why ? Because both had ruthless 
enemies, which we have despised, and either destroyed 
or banished; and this brings its own punishment. 
Do not, however, let us despair! Matters are not 
quite so had as they used to be; voices, both numerous 
and influential, are beginning to make themselves heard, 
begging, aye, even demanding, protection for birds. 
Batzeburg’s demands will be satisfied; and breeding- 
places will be constructed for our feathered friends. 
And every sensible person will at last concur in the call 
of all students of Nature : “ Protection for birds /” 
