Bird -Lore 



few da\s. The loss would be irreparable, and, it is to be especially 

 noted, would not be confined to tbe vicinity, but would affect the whole 

 east coast of Florida, there being, so far as is known, no other breeding 

 colony of Pelicans on the Atlantic coast of the peninsula. 



There is doubtless no area of similar extent in the world so well 

 adapted to the wants of certain aquatic birds as Florida; and if today it 



were inhabited by even one -tenth of 

 the myriads of Herons, Egrets, Spoon- 

 bills and other large and conspicuous 

 ' birds w^hich animated its lakes and 



marshes thirty years ago, the marvel 

 of its wild life would be known the 

 world around and prove of greater 

 interest to tourists than any existing 

 attraction in the state. If Floridians 

 doubt this valuation of birds which 

 they have been accustomed to regard 

 as worthless, or at so much per plume, 

 let them observe the excitement oc- 

 casioned among the tourists on a St. 

 John's or Ocklawaha steamer by the 

 now rare appearance of White Herons 

 within a short distance of the boat. 



The birds have gone, and what 

 has the state received ? Proportion- 

 ately nothing. Here and there a poor 

 hunter, or a curio dealer, has made a 

 few dollars, but most of the killing has 

 been done by, or under tlie immediate 

 inspiration of, northern dealers, and 

 Florida's loss has been their gain. 



There are still scattered colonies 

 of these birds in the less accessible 

 parts of Florida, and if the natives of the state ever open their eyes to 

 the indisputable fact that a living bird is of incalculably greater value to 

 them than a dead one, they may perhaps take some steps to defend their 

 rights, and by passing and enforcing proper laws, put an end to the dev- 

 astations of the northern plume agents, who have robbed their state of 

 one of its greatest charms. 



YOUNG BROWN PELICAN IN GROUND NEST 

 BUILT OF STICKS 



