24 THE PROVENCHER SOCIETY 



season, when most of the eggs are about to hatch out — and these 

 are the ones that float. But even greater destruction is done when 

 a schooner stays several days in the same place. For then the 

 crew go round, first smashing every egg they see, and afterwards 

 gathering every egg they see, because they know the few they find 

 the second time must have been newly laid. 



Many details were given of other forms of destruction, and some 

 details of the revolting cruelties practised there, as in every other 

 place where wild life is grossly abused instead of being sanely used. 

 All classes of legitimate human interest were dealt with in turn; 

 and it was shown that the present system — or want of system — was 

 bad for each one: bad for such wild life as must still be used for 

 necessary food, bad for every kind of business in the products of 

 wild life, bad for the future of sport, bad for the pursuits of science, 

 and bad for the prospects of wild "zoos". 



BLACK DUCK (Anas rubripes) 



It is a favorite object of pursuit by sportsmen, and in the 

 struggle to maintain existence has learn edits lesson so well that it 

 is still comparatively numerous in localities where less wary species 

 would long ago have been exterminated. Originally a diurnal 

 feeding species, like most ducks, persecution has taught the black 

 duck to seek safety on the broad ocean during the hours of daylight, 

 and to resort to inland ponds for the, purpose of feeding only after 

 sunset. In order to protect this and other waterfowl one of the 

 regulations under the federal migratoiy bird law forbids shooting 

 after sunset and before sunrise, and the enforcement of this regula- 

 tion will probably do more for the preservation of the black duck 

 than any other provision that could be devised. That protection 

 for this species is sorely needed appears from the fact that through- 

 out its range, except in a few localities, the black duck has of late 

 years steadily diminished in numbers. 



(Henry W. Hexshaw) 



Prime kinds of fishes are, and have for some j^ears been, in the 

 cities of this country, expensive articles of diet. It was so in 

 Ath^nes, in the earlier centuries. 



Xenarchus says in the Purple. (400 years B, C.) 



