yo JOURNAI, OF MAINE ORNlTHOIvOGICAL SOCIETY. 



the bay only to revisit it for their favorite food under cover of dark- 

 ness. 



The advent of the " Automatic" gun is a step further in the 

 process of extermination. This nefarious machine needs no pump- 

 ing, but shoots its entire contents with lightning rapidity with but 

 the pressure of a finger, and without removing the gun from the 

 shoulder. 



As for myself, I have never used anything but an ordinary 

 double gun, and twelve gauge at that, and believe anything more 

 destructive or noisy works to the ultimate disadvantage of the 

 gunner as well as the birds. 



Three illustrations and I will close. 



I have myself seen a double float scull a bunch of birds, and 

 when, through unskillful maneuvering the birds rose wild, seen twelve 

 shots from two repeaters fired into their retreating ranks in less time 

 than it takes to relate it, with the result only of a senseless frighten- 

 ing of the birds. 



I have also witnessed a good shot carefully vScull a bunch of six 

 Black Ducks, getting two with the first shot on the water, and then 

 as they rose, pick off in rapid succession one by one, the other 

 remaining four with his deadly repeater, exterminating the flock. 



Again, when waiting on the shore of the bay in October, I 

 observed a bunch of twelve Black Ducks fly over the woods and 

 make for a small pond hole where I knew three gunners were lying 

 in wait with repeaters. In a few seconds yz/ZirY;/ s/iofs were fired with 

 such a rapidity that they could scarcely be counted and one lone 

 duck came out over the tree tops the sole survivor of the hapless 

 flock. 



These illustrations of the workings of the magazine gun must 

 convince any fair minded sportsman of the desirability of prohibit- 

 ing their use, and by all means let us work to that end before it is 

 too late. 



There is little use in locking the stable door after the horse is 

 stolen. 



