CONSERVATION OF GAME BIRDS. 559 



of animal life can escape indirect responsibility for the destruc- 

 tion of thousands of insects, mammals and birds. If we eat 

 bread it is at the expense of the lives of the insects, birds and 

 mammals which feed upon the grain, and which the farmer 

 often is obliged to kill to protect his crops. Wild Geese are 

 killed in large numbers in the west to protect the sprouting 

 grain. Geese, Ducks, Blackbirds, Pigeons, Crows, Rooks, 

 Grouse, Sparrows and other birds, and mice, rats, gophers, 

 squirrels and other mammals, would destroy the grain crops 

 of the world were they allowed to become too numerous; and 

 the legions of insect enemies of grain must be fought con- 

 tinually. Ducks, Bobolinks and Blackbirds are killed in large 

 numbers on the rice fields. Mice, squirrels, rabbits and certain 

 birds are among the most destructive of fruit-tree pests. 

 Squirrels are the pests of the nut grower, while marmots 

 destroy garden vegetables. The vegetarian and the humani- 

 tarian, therefore, are not in a logical position to protest against 

 the killing of animals, since of necessity much of their own 

 food is procured at the expense of the lives of many creatures. 

 Therefore, let not those who shrink at the sound of a gun 

 be too intolerant of the man who gets enjoyment and recreation 

 in killing game legitimately, but let us devote our energies 

 to so regulating the killing and production of game that no 

 wild species will be exterminated, but that game will be so in- 

 creased that a reasonable amount of gunning may be provided 

 for those who find recreation in it. The killing of birds for 

 mere sport is abhorrent to many people. Still there are many 

 good and useful men who enjoy it. The hunting instinct 

 is inborn in many who are among the most efficient men now 

 in business life. It is inherited from a long line of hunting 

 ancestry. Men who have the combative and destructive 

 elements of their character fully developed are better fitted 

 for the battle of life than those not so endowed, and such 

 men often find their best recreation in hunting. I have 

 known business men whose useful lives have been much pro- 

 longed by field sports, — men w^iom no other form of outdoor 

 recreation could have so attracted. Many such men find 

 that a moderate indulgence in field sports gives them an errand 



