Papers on the Destntciion of Native BtJ'ds, 19 1 



Such exaggerations and inferences as that defeat their own purpose ; 

 and to refute them, it is sufficient, in my opinion, to cite the prac- 

 tical fact that no song-bird is known to have become extinct, or 

 even materially lessened in numbers, over any wide extent of our 

 country, and where they /nn^c become diminished in limited local- 

 ities, it has been chiefly due to the introduction by a lot of well- 

 meaning but misguided sentimentalists and ornithological cranks, 

 so to speak, of a foreign species (the European sparrow), which 

 pre-empts their nesting places, eats up their food, and otherwise 

 increases at their expense, so that they are forced to seek a home 

 elsewhere. 



Another cause of decrease in some localities — and 2i prei'cnta- 

 blc one — is the removal of their favorite abiding-places, such as 

 thickets and shrubbery. Where this is not done there is no reason 

 — aside, perhaps, from the Euro])ean sparrow — why our suburbs 

 and country places generally should not possess more song-birds 

 than they ever did in the early days of the country's settlement. 



While, therefore, lam in favor of the increase of desirable birds, 

 of the utmost dissemination of knowledge respecting all birds, of 

 the formation of Audubon Societies, if you please, and of the pop- 

 ularizing of ornithology in general, I do not think we gain anything 

 in a scientific or practical sense by distorting, misstating or sup- 

 pressing facts, exaggerating figures, or by denouncing the well- 

 established right of man to use all natural objects for the further- 

 ance of his necessities, his convenience, or his pleasures. 



In concluding, ladies and gentlemen, let me say to you that 

 my remarks this evening are merely a few random notes and com- 

 ments upon a subject of vast extent. And if I have succeeded in 

 directing your thoughts to a few of its important relations to 

 humanity and the rest of animated nature, I shall have accom- 

 plished my present purpose. 



