THE CAGE BIRD CULT [To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.]
Sts,—Mr. Hamish Maclaren's sane yet pungent article in tla Spectator for February 12th expresses what many must hart felt. " Manufactured " birds in cages one can tolerate though I must confess that, living away from their natura environment, and under artificial conditions, they give ou little pleasure. But the sight of wild birds of the English countryside cooped up in a few feet of wire is a different matter. " We think caged birds sing, when indeed they cry.' Webster's line gives food for thought.
I have often wondered whether keepers of caged wild birds could not be brought to realize how much more interesting they are in their native haunts. They may so easily he attracted even to a small garden by the use of bird tables and bird baths. If the objection is made, " I have no garden," or " My garden is in a town and few birds come to it," my answer is—What right have you to keep a bird shut up where it would not live of its own free will for your own pleasure ?
No one can upbraid your correspondent whose birds return to their cages voluntarily. But what have his wife or women. folk to say about the mess they make ?—I am, Sir, lire.,
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