THE PARK WATER-BIRDS.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SFECTATOR.
Ornithological Society of Loudon, 37, Pall Mall, 1st Nov. 137. Sot —The arousing remarks ill your last paper, headed "The Park Geese versus the Park Commisioners," though, no doubt, well meant, are likely to do mischief. Of the ugliness of the boards which the Commissioners "have caused to be stuck up," I am not disposed to be an apologist ; but it is but justice to them to state, that the Council of this Society made several and urgent applications to the Commissioners to cause some such notices to be affixed in conspicuous places. This Society has placed in the enclosure in St. James's Park a very valuable collection of birds ; they are placed there solely for the amusement of the public ; they excite very great interest ; and it is hard that the rational pleasure of the many should be destroyed by the ignorant mischief of the few.
So many losses were however sustained by the mischief of children, that it became a serious consideration whether that part of the Society's scheme should not be abandoned ; and the Cominisaioners were requested to appeal from one portion of the " Park-frequenters," the children, to the other portion, arrived at years of diaeretion.
The ugly experiment has succeeded. Very few accidents now occur ; and the Park-freonenters are not likely to be deptiveil of the pleasure which you, Mr Editor, one of them, enjoy.
The tameness uf the birds argues impunity, but demands protection. Your obedient servant,
Ose OF TkIE SEcarrARIBs.
We have received another letter on the same subject, from a correspondent who gives his natne and address. He corroborates the above statement; and mentions, that, in consequence of the " ugly" notices, several boys have been severely reprimanded, or handed over to the Police, by perstmi who have caught them in the act of throwiug stones at the birds." He adds—" The practice is daily becoming less frequent ; and the only inst Ince, I believe, of a bird being killed since the notices were put up, (and of which I was an eye- witness,) occurred on Sunday last, wheu a boy struck a bittern on the head with a stick. The perpetrator of this wanten act of cruelty unfortunately escaped through the plantations ; but the indignati )))) his conduct excited, will, I have no doubt, be a warning to his associates.”—This is all news to us. We beg the Board's pardon, and present our compliments to she Oruitholugists.--
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