THE CAGE BIRD AND THE BIRD-FANCIER. 
463 
epicurean palates; but woe betide the unfortunate 
lovers of cage birds who would depopulate the woods by 
catching, perchance, here a Nightingale, there a Chaf¬ 
finch, Thrush, or other song bird, and place it in a 
cage ! The result of such clamour is, that the snaring of 
a songster, particularly a Nightingale, and keeping it 
in confinement, is punishable by a heavy fine. In some 
places Nightingales are taxed to the extent of five 
thalers and upwards per annum. How does such a law 
work ? Why, solely to the disadvantage of the poor, of 
course; for the rich can pay the fine with ease, while 
the five thalers deprive the poor man of his bird. I 
should consider the la,w a better one, did it punish the 
destruction of a nest, or the killing of any useful bird, by a 
fine of ten or twenty thalers, and forbid the catching and 
disturbing of song birds in public walks, gardens, and 
parks, while their capture for the cage, in the well- 
stocked wood and forest, should be left free. I consider 
it would be more humane if the poor man were allowed 
to keep his caged pet in peace, did he but catch it in 
a district where the loss would not be felt, and where 
it could be easily replaced. 
I hold it to be cruel indeed that the mechanic, con¬ 
fined as he necessarily is to his room during the 
livelong day, in town or country, should be deprived of 
his cage bird,—he, poor fellow, whose brightest music, 
except the Swallow, is the harsh note of the Rook and 
Jackdaw, the shrill squeal of the Swift, or the squabbling 
of the House Sparrow on the roof; it is hard to deprive 
the weaver of his friend and companion, who lightens the 
long weary hours at the loom; the turner at his lathe ; 
the carpenter at the bench;—to take away the bonny bird, 
who whistles its cheery lay to the cobbler bending over 
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