THE PROTECTION OF ANIMALS
[To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR.] SIR,—AS Major Athill's most striking article, " Love and Death," and the letters you have printed from correspondents go to show., there are signs on every side of a changing outlook, a more appreciative and sympathetic attitude toward Nature ; an atmosphere increasingly favourable to conservation. Thus our Acts for the protection of wild birds are ever increasing in scope and efficiency and—most significant—by no means is effort restricted to safeguarding_ those species unanimously acclaimed as beneficial to utilitarian human. interest. We see this year, in the new Birds of Prey Protection Fund, a special endeavour on behalf of - birds 1,51 no means universally held to be innocuous. Naturalists' societies subsidise badgers' earths, the grey seal has its close time. The Swedish Govern- ment preserves elks by, inter alio, paying compensation for any damage they do, and a State-endowed eagle-damage compensation fund has been suggested as an alternative to allowing the killing of Norwegian sea-eagles. Going further, the little State of Lichtenstein extends protection to include all bats, hedgehogs, the woodmouse, lizards, salamanders, newts and even non-poisonous snakes and toads and frogs. Instances of increased respect for animal life might be multi- plied indefinitely., The time-honoured atmosphere in which blood-sports are tolerated is sterile, without promise for the future, and contains the germs of its own defeat. It is productive of no more than the protectkai of the animals it is desired in turn to kill. It fosters no liberal spirit of protection ; witness the notorious destruction of wild life, both furred and feathered, at the hands of the game-keeper for the preservation of what have been ironically called " the only birds which count, partridges and pheasants." Thought is orientated for wider, more rational conservation. It is a question of the weight the people, whose attitude can be epitomised as that of " hating the hunt and loving the fox," are prepared to pull. Hunting is had at the price of organisation, work and money. Protection, in substitution for that they-now receive as beasts of the chase, can be afforded to otter, hare, deer and even fox if. these people "love the fox " as much as the hunting people " love the hunt," but the condition, in the same way, is organised effort, work and money.—Yours faithfully, PHYLLIS CLODD. Observatory Cottage, Aldeburgh, Suffolk.
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