1 30 Cincinnati Society of Natural tlistory. 



have been i)rei)ared and read at three meetings of this society. 

 They find 



JPirst — That native birds of many species have greatly de- 

 creased in numbers over kirge areas of the country. This is par- 

 ticularly true of those water and game birds about which it is com- 

 paratively easy to obtain statistics. 



Second — That the chief causes of such decrease, in addition 

 to climatic changes, natural enemies, clearing up the country, etc. 

 are 



I — The destruction of birds for their skins and feathers, for 

 decoration and millinery uses. 



2 — The trapping of birds for cages. 



3 — The destruction of eggs and nests by men and boys. 



4 — The introduction of the European sparrow (Passer do- 

 mesticus), which occupies the nesting ])laces of many native 

 species. 



Three of the destructive causes are preventable and the evils 

 resulting therefrom can be greatly lessened : 



First — If no birds be used for decoration. 



Second — If none of the song birds and insectivorous species 

 be used for food. 



Tliird — If the laws protecting certain species be backed by 

 stronger public oi)inion and more rigidly enforced. 



Fourth — If thoughdess men and boys could be shown the 

 o-reat economic value of birds and taught to protect them and their 



eggs. 



Your Committee think a wide spread discussion of this bird 

 question shows more interest in " Our Feathered Friends "' than was 

 hoped for, and they trust that Cuvier Clubs, Audubon Societies and 

 and other clubs of like aims, will continue to flourish on all sides 

 until public sendment and practice is entirely opposed to the Des- 

 truction of our Native Birds. 



Respectfully submitted, 



R. H. Warder, 

 Cincinnati, ()., Charles Dury, 



July 6, 1886. Wm. Hubdell Fisher. 



It was moved that the report be received and the C'ommittee 

 continued. 



