Genre:

Essay, Drollery

Subjects:

Gender, Zoology, Ornithology, Aesthetics, Extinction

    Links the 'improvement of man' to the 'elevation' in the 'ideas of ornamental art' held by women. Thinks that women's use of certain 'objects of natural history'—notably, small birds—for decoration shows the rise in civilisation but threatens the extinction of various species. Requests women to exploit less appealing creatures such as frogs and cockroaches.