“The evidence has been such as to show conclusively, in the opinion of the Committee, that not only are birds of many species slaughtered recklessly, but also that the methods employed for slaughter are such as in many cases, and especially in that of egrets, to involve the destruction of the young birds and eggs. “Birds are, as a rule, in their finest plumage at the time of nesting, and have been shown to be especially the prey of hunters at that season.” Such Committees should not be appointed if their conclusions are not to be paid attention to. CONCERNING LAWS I ON PROCEDURE IN PARLIAMENT (A Letter to _The Times_, March, 1914.) I am moved to speak out what, I am sure, many are feeling. We are a so-called civilized country; we have a so-called Christian religion; we profess humanity. We have an elected Parliament, to each member of which we pay £400 a year; so that we have at least some right to say: “Please do our business, and that quickly!” And yet we sit and suffer such barbarities and mean cruelties to go on amongst us as must dry the heart of God. I cite at random a few only of the abhorrent things done daily, daily left undone—done and left undone, without a shadow of a doubt, against the conscience and general will of the community:— (1) Sweating of women workers. (2) Insufficient feeding of children. (3) Employment of boys on work that to all intents ruins their chances in after-life. (4) Foul housing of those who have as much right as you and I to the first decencies of life. (5) Consignment of paupers (that is, those without money or friends) to lunatic asylums on the certificate of one doctor—the certificate of two doctors being essential in the case of a person who has money or friends. (6) Export of horses worn out in work. Export that, for a few pieces of blood-money, delivers up old and faithful servants to wretchedness. (7) Mutilation of horses by docking, so that they suffer, offend the eye, and are defenceless against the attacks of flies. (8) Caging of wild things, especially wild song-birds, by those who themselves think liberty the breath of life. (9) Slaughter for food of millions of creatures every year by methods that can easily be improved. (10) Importation of the plumes of ruthlessly slain wild birds, mothers with young in the nest, to decorate our women.