viii PREFACE 



battle with crews of armed poachers; on lonely 

 sand spits may be found the graves of Audubon 

 agents who have died, rifle in hand, defending 

 their posts against feather pirates ; while, far and 

 wide over the country, war wages between game 

 officials and desperado pot-hunters. Carelessness 

 and ignorance are on the side of the enemies of 

 birds. To reveal to the lads of the United States 

 the needs of their feathered friends, to show the 

 magnificent work being done by the United States 

 government, and to give every American boy the 

 opportunity of winning his spurs in the service of 

 American birds, is the aim and purpose of 



The Atjthoe. 



