THE CUCKOOS, ETC. 159 



and existing only in comparatively restricted and isolated localities 

 in lower Mississippi Valley and Gulf States." 



This is not pleasant reading. " Nearly extermi- 

 nated" means that we have not had law enough of 

 the proper sort to make extermination impossible. It 

 is quite probable is it not certain ? that if any of the 

 remaining parrots ventured into the old haunts they 

 would be immediately slaughtered. This is the usual 

 fate of rare birds, and the professional ornithologists 

 are more at fault than the loafers. 



