22 JUNE 1872, Page 3

Mr. John Colam, Secretary to the Society for the Prevention

of Cruelty to Animals, writes a valuable letter to the Times. He says nightingales are trapped and caged in great numbers, and can be purchased of all the bird-dealers, who admit that the supply only depends upon the number of trappers employed. He conarms also the statement as to the practice of blinding birds, having seen three such blinded birds in one visit to Bird-fair. He adds, in answer to Mr. Henley's speech against the multiplication of offences, that in Germany birds'-nesting is strictly prohibited, partly to preserve the birds and partly to protect the crops and fences, things about which peasant farmers are more apt to be solicitous than English squires.