. The Audubon magazine . as to the wisdom of organizing theAudubon Society, and I am thankful that such astep is contemplated. There is an element of savag-ery in the use of birds for personal decoration, whichis in grotesque contrast with our boasts of civiliza-tion. But even the savage stops short, as a rule,with the feathers. It is only Christian people whathink it worth while to butcher a whole bird to adorntheir head gear. I am sure, however, that this islargely from that unreflecting habit which is a lead-ing vice in people who follow the fashions. But it isa vice; as Hood sang, when he
. The Audubon magazine . as to the wisdom of organizing theAudubon Society, and I am thankful that such astep is contemplated. There is an element of savag-ery in the use of birds for personal decoration, whichis in grotesque contrast with our boasts of civiliza-tion. But even the savage stops short, as a rule,with the feathers. It is only Christian people whathink it worth while to butcher a whole bird to adorntheir head gear. I am sure, however, that this islargely from that unreflecting habit which is a lead-ing vice in people who follow the fashions. But it isa vice; as Hood sang, when he wrote— For evil is wroughtBy want of thoughtAs well as by want of heart. If the Audubon Society can teach men, and es-pecially women, to think on this subject, half of thebattle will have been won. Henry C, Potter. Andover, Mass., Feb. 21, Forest and Stream : I am in earnest and indignant sympathy with themotive of any society organized to prevent the mur-der of birds for decorative purposes. E. S. The Audubon Magazine. Vol. II. MAY, 1888. No. 4. THE NIGHT HERON. THE herons are a group of birds wellrepresented in America. They arepeculiar and but little known to the casualobserver, so that before turning our atten-tion to the subject of this sketch a fewwords may be said about the family as awhole. The herons, as is well known, are char-acterized by long legs, necks and bills, arewater-loving birds, living about streams andlakes, from which they draw their subsist-ence. They are birds of rather sluggishhabit, slow-moving and with a slow butpowerful flight. On account of their quietways, and the fact that their life is spent inout-of-the-way places, they are seldom seenexcept by ornithologists and gunners. Mostof the time they spend standing motionlessby a stream on the watch for fish, frogs orlizards, and when anything living ventureswithin their reach it is almost sure to betransfixed by the sharp bill which the readybird darts out like lightning to seiz
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, booksubjectbirdspe, bookyear1887
