en guess-work and
knowledge; and they will thank you as long as they live for
having encouraged them in so good a cause. With all good
wishes for the success of your first "Bird Day"--and many to
come after it,

Very truly yours,

BRADFORD TORREY.

The first observance of "Bird Day," May 4, 1894, is briefly set forth
in the following paragraph from the _New England Journal of
Education_:--

The day was observed in the Oil City schools with a degree
of enthusiasm which was good to see. The amount of
information about birds that was collected by the children
was simply amazing. Original compositions were read,
informal discussions were held, talks by teachers were
given, and the birds in literature were not forgotten or
overlooked. The interest was not confined to the children,
one gentleman surprising the classes in which his children
celebrated the day by presenting to them artistic programs
of the exercises.

It seems to those interested that the idea simply needs to
be made known to meet with a warm welcome, akin to that with
which we greet our first robin or song sparrow in the
spring.

II

THE VALUE OF BIRDS

Probably few people understand the value of birds or comprehend how
closely and yet how extensively their lives are interwoven with other
forms of life. The general sentiment in regard to them, at the best,
has been that they are harmless, even interesting and beautiful
creatures; but the idea that they are one of the most important
classes of creation, a class upon which the existence of many other
classes depends, has never been widely prevalent. Suppose we were
asked which is of more use to man, the fishes of our waters or the
birds of our forests and fields? Many of us would unhesitatingly
answer in favor of the fishes.

If all of these denizens of the rivers, lakes, and seas should be
destroyed, it would be a stupendous calamity. Mankind would
universally deplore it; and if the nations of the world should, at any
time, become convinced that such a thing might occur, how quickly they
would take all possible means to prevent it! All civilized people now
have laws to preserve this food supply and are making expensive and
laborious efforts to increase it. Any one who should destroy thousands
of tons of these edible swimmers, simply for their heads and tails, or
fins and scales, would be regarded as