Papers on the Destriietion of Native Birds, 219 



3. Human agents which are unintentional and largely unavoid- 

 able (such as light-houses and electric light towers, furnace stacks, 

 bridges and other structures, telegraph wires, the destruction of 

 forests, forest fires, prairie fires, mowing of grass during the nest 

 ing season, the destruction of breeding sites, etc.) 



"You will find a suggestive article by H. W. Henshaw, 'On 

 some of the causes affecting the decrease of birds ' in the Bulletin 

 of the Nuttall Ornithological Club, for October, 1881, (vol. VI, 

 No. 4, pp. 189-197). 



"Trusting that yoa will succeed in breaking down Dr. Lang- 

 don's argument, I remain, . . 

 Very Respectfully, 



' C. Hart Merriaini, Ornithologist." 



In Scotland a society has been recently formed for the preser- 

 vation of the native birds. 



The Queen of England has pronounced against the wearing 

 of birds. 



The Audubon Society has much opposition to overcome in the 

 form of organized selfishness. It is accomplishing much 



Let the good work go on. 



Wm. Hubbell Fisher. 



SEVENTH PAPER. ' . 

 By Prof. Jos. F. James. 

 (Read June 16, 1886.) 



(Abstract.^ 



The text of the paper was the assertion by Dr. Langdon, that 

 there was little or no danger of any notable decrease in the number 

 of birds in the world, by man's action through any cause at present 

 within our knowledge. The writer showed that in the extermina- 

 tion of the Great Auk, and the wild pigeon, as well as in the nota- 

 ble decrease in numbers of various other species, that man's influ- 

 ence had been all powerful. Quotations were made from various 

 authorities showing how thousands of the Great Auk had been 

 slaughtered by sailors for food, until none are left. The accounts 

 of Audubon and Wilson of the immense flocks of wild pigeons 

 which once frequented the Mississippi Valley were read to show 

 man's potent influence here. For not only were the birds them- 



