Pity the Poor Birds. By Augustus Jessopp, D.D. (S.P.C.A.)— Dr.
Jessopp showed his pity for the birds by planting a copse This work he describes, and it makes an interesting episode. Planting, so it be done judiciously, is not unprofitable. Dr. Jessopp's figures in this matter are worth notice. As for the birds, we are generally in accord with our author. He concedes that some of them do a great deal of mischief, the sparrow especially. Cherries, strawberries, peas, beans, currants suffer grievously from their ravages. "Yet," he goes on, "we have enough and to spare for ourselves." He is fortunate. The writer of this notice had once a garden in the midst of woods. The birds took literally everything in the way of fruit that was not netted. Many people know what it is to have cherry-trees from which they never get a single cherry. Dr. Jessopp's happier experience is, "Magpies have been known to spoil a cherry-tree." It is not a question of food or starvation. The birds can get plenty to eat, but they prefer garden fruit to anything else. There is no harm in keeping them off, even by the extreme measure, more effective than anything else, of shooting an offender and hanging up his corpse. With what Dr. Jessopp says about feeding the needy creatures in winter, and with his invective against the murderous fashion of female adornment, we beartily agree.
Previous page
