No. 4.] DECREASE OF BIRDS. 445 



Worcester County. — Dr. C. F. Hodge of "Worcester re- 

 ports birds as increasing rapidly on his premises, and he 

 believes there are more in the city than three or four years 

 ago. Dr. Hodge is a professor in Ckirk University, and a 

 leader in nature study at Worcester. He takes a careful 

 bird census each year, destroys the English sparrows and 

 other enemies of birds, puts up bird-houses, feeds birds, 

 and teaches the children not to molest them, — all of which 

 may account for the increase of birds in his vicinity. Mr. 

 William S. Perry of Worcester, who has had a long experi- 

 ence as a field ornithologist, sportsman and teacher, and 

 who is familiar with many towns in northern Worcester 

 County, says: "Some species have remained about the 

 same for the last thirty years ; others are exterminated ; 

 others are decreased one-half. Most show decrease, some 

 increase." Dr. Lemuel F. Woodward of Worcester, whose 

 observations have extended over more than thirty years, 

 believes that hawks, owls, eagles, game birds, nighthawks, 

 swallows, warblers and thrushes are decreasing. Col. John 

 E. Thayer of Lancaster writes that he has been in the woods 

 nearly every day between March 15 and July 1 for the past 

 eight years. He says that, with the exception of four spe- 

 cies, birds have not decreased in his locality. Mr. Charles 

 E. Ingalls of East Templeton, who has had a large experi- 

 ence as a field observer, and has travelled much about the 

 State, says that birds are decreasing in his town, county and 

 State. He says a gradual decrease has been apparent for 

 thirty or more years, accelerated during the last ten years. 

 Mr. C. E. Stone of Lunenburg believes that insectivorous 

 birds are rather on the increase. "A few species, notably 

 the game birds, are not as plentiful as formerl3^" 



IlamjpsJiire Count ij. — I have received no report from any 

 ornithologist in this county, so present the reports of ob- 

 servers in whose judgment I have confidence. Prof. Wm. 

 P. Brooks of Amherst writes: " Should say birds are not 

 decreasing in this vicinity." Dr. H. T. Fernald, also of 

 Amherst, having consulted with Prof. R. F. Xelligan in 

 regard to game birds, believes there is some decrease, but 

 assigns the weather as one cause. 



