CONSERVATION OF GAME BIRDS. 543 



"An extensive marsh bordering a lake in northern New 

 York formed a suitable home for numerous ducks, rails, 

 snapping turtles, frogs and other aquatic life. The turtles de- 

 posited their eggs in abundance in the sand of the old beach. 

 These delicacies attracted the attention of the skunks of the 

 neighborhood, and their nightly feasts so reduced the total 

 output of eggs that only a small percentage of the young 

 survived to reach the protective shelter of the marsh. As 

 time went on conditions changed. Skunk fur became fashion- 

 able and commanded a good price. The country boy, ever 

 on the alert for an opportunity to add to his pocket money, 

 sallied forth and captured the luckless fur bearer wherever 

 found, so that within a comparatively short time the skunks 

 almost wholly disappeared. When this check on their increase 

 was removed, the snapping turtles hatched in great numbers, 

 and scrambled off in all directions into the marsh. When 

 their numbers had been properly controlled by the destruction 

 of a large proportion of their eggs, their food supply was 

 adequate, but when they had increased many-fold the supply 

 proved insufficient. Finally, through force of circumstances, 

 the turtles added ducklings to their fare, until the few ducks 

 that refused to leave the marsh paid the penalty of their per- 

 sistency by rarely bringing to maturity more than one or two 

 young. It is not surprising that this great aggregation of tur- 

 tles, containing the essential of delicious soup, should have 

 attracted the attention of the agents of the marketmen and 

 restaurant keepers. The final chapter, the readjustment of 

 conditions, may be briefly told: The marsh became a scene of 

 great activity, where men and boys caught the voracious 

 chelonians, and bags, boxes and barrels of them were shipped 

 away. There was also a depreciation in the value of skunk 

 skins, with a corresponding loss of interest on the part of the 

 trapper, so the progeny of the surviving skunks congregated 

 at the old beach and devoured the eggs of the turtles that had 

 enjoyed a brief period of prosperity. The broods of ducks 

 now remained unmolested and attracted other breeding birds, 

 with the result that the old marsh reverted to its original 

 populous condition." 



