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 i62 Bird -Lore a day." And so it goes. But shall we be content with this state of things when any bright child can be given the necessary instruction in an hour by which he can succeed in keeping alive and taming practically all the fledglings that fall in his way ? Second : We owe it as a duty to both the birds and ourselves to learn the facts of bird life. We do not adequately know the life story of a single one of our most common species. Every fact that can be discovered as to the good or the harm that birds do ought to be found out. Every fact so discovered will act as just so much more motive force to bring about proper relations with our birds. A few birds have been killed, and the stomach contents analyzed, to obtain facts about bird foods which have changed our sentiments and even legislation. Somebody owed this as a duty to both birds and community. But this method is not well adapted for use in elementary schools, and its results might be infinitely extended and the subject of bird foods made a matter of practical public education, by having classes in nature study throughout our schools make feeding tests with tame birds of different species. Cages will have to play at least a temporary role in work of this kind. More than this, a knowledge of bird ways, habits, methods of feeding and caring for their nests and young, their songs and calls, "their manners for the heart's delight," are great aesthetic and educational values. These might all be developed and enhanced by a proper use of caged birds. Instead of collections of stviffed birds, the ethics and educational value of which I wish might be discussed in Bird- Lore, each city might have, possibly maintained by some ornitholo- gical society, a fine collection of pairs of a few of our most valuable species. These could make the rounds of the schools each year. This, too, need only be a temporary expedient, useful until sufficient general interest and knowledge is developed so that we may have, properly appreciated and protected, an abundance of our native birds tamed sufficiently to come close about our homes. The above are but two points among many, and I bring them forward to bespeak a little intelligent favor for the proper use of the cage. We owe the birds duties of protection and acquaintance, and the cage may help us in the performance of both. C. F. Hodge, Clark University.