13 



birds, has led to the depletion of insectivorous birds to such a 

 degree that scarcely a crop of any kind can be raised without 

 spraying with poison to kill the Insects which were formerly 

 kept in check by the birds. The penalty for this destruction of 

 the balance of nature Is everywhere apparent, and the hor- 

 ticulturist and farmer are heavily taxed for want of foresight 

 in protecting their own interests. 



"If the destruction of these birds cannot be otherwise re- 

 strained, let the law for their protection extend to 'the posses- 

 sion of their skins or any part thereof,' except for scientific 

 purposes." 



THE SNARF.R IN EVIDENCE IN PENNSYLVANIA. 



During recent years it appears, from reports which 

 reach this office from various sections of the State, 

 that the snaring of birds has been carried on to a great 

 extent. This murderous method is engaged in prin- 

 cipally by a class of foreigners who are apparently 

 thoroughly acquainted with all the devices of the 

 poachers of the Old World. Euffed grouse, in some 

 regions of the State, have been almost entirely extir- 

 pated through this villainous practice. Although 

 Kuffcd Grouse, undoubtedly, suffer the most from 

 snares, this method of capture is, unfortunately, by no 

 means confined to these game birds. These death- 

 dealing and cunningly hidden snares have, on several 

 occasions, been discovertd in swamps and meadow 

 lands, places where Woodcock and Wilson's or English 

 snipe are kno^\ n to frequent. Men who make a busi- 

 ness of hunting meat or bird's skins for the market, 

 catch numbers of small song and bright-plumaged 

 birds by the use of birdlime and snares, the latter art- 

 fully placed about the nests. 



A member of our State Game Commission in the 

 early part of November, 1896, visited the market stalls 

 of one of our large cities and examined forty Ruffed 



