The accused children: The criminalization of “little bird-catchers” in Belgium in the 19th Century

Abstract

The article explores the criminalization of “bird catchers” children in the 19th century in Belgium within the context of the enactment of bird protection laws. Shedding light on the emergence of environmental illegality, it examines discourses criminalizing this practice and social responses to account for the interactions between society, crime, and the environment, thereby contributing to the understanding of historical dynamics of the time. Indeed, during the second half of the 19th century, a certain discourse defining a new environmental criminality arises in Belgium, involving not only the act of bird hunting but also the children practicing it. The criminalization of children is based on two arguments: their impact on the natural balance and their immorality. The examination of bird hunting repression reveals that beyond avian conservation, it also aims to control rural populations and promote urban values.