68 THE FLICKER. 



including the vicious — a deep-rooted superstition tending to the 

 protection and preservation of our birds is wanted. For exam- 

 ample, the absurd saying, " The sting of a humming bird re- 

 sults in death," has stayed many a hand itching to examine 

 this living gem. Again, the number of Catbirds slain on the 

 altar of a deep-rooted prejudice cannot be estimated. 



Mr. Walter G Savage, Hillsboro, Iowa, says he can note 

 no increase or decrease in the past five years, but there has 

 been a decrease of about 20 per cent, in the last twenty 

 years. 



