Animal life should never be taken except for some good purpose.

Birds are killed by scientists that their structure and uses may be studied--just as doctors must examine human bodies.

But if you kill a bird, of what use is its dead body to you ?" "I would like to see if I could hit it, and then--I--guess," hesitating, "I could find out its name better if I had it in my hand." "Ah, Nat, my lad, I thought so; _first_ to see if you can hit it, and _perhaps_ because you want to know the bird's name.

Did you ever think of trying to cut off one of your fingers with your jack-knife, to see if you could do it, or how it is made ?" "Why, no, uncle, it would hurt, and I couldn't put it on again, and it wouldn't do me any good anyway, for I could find out about it by asking a doctor, without hurting myself." "Yes, that is right; and for the present you can learn enough about birds without shooting them yourself, and if you learn your lesson well you will never shoot a song-bird." "May we see the book you are writing, Uncle Roy, and learn all about the birds out of it ?" "It is written in words too long and difficult for you to understand.
Here is a page on the desk--see if you can read it." Nat stood by the Doctor's chair, but the longer he looked at the page the more puzzled he became, and at last he said, "I think, if you please, I'd rather have a book with only the birds' plain American names." Then he spelled out slowly, "C-y-a-n-o-c-i-t-t-a c-r-i-s-t-a-t-a.

Why, that's Latin, but it only means Blue Jay." "Couldn't you write a _little_ book for us, uncle--just a common little book, all in plain words ?" pleaded Dodo.