222 THE NATURE-STUDY REVIEW [i, 5, sept. 1905 



models, has lately been put on the market by the gun trust, which 

 is backed by millions of dollars of capital, and it is understood 

 that these people will spend any amount of money necessary in 

 a desperate effort to defeat the legislation we have undertaken to 

 secure. 



The automatic shot-gun is essentially a market hunter's and a 

 pot hunter's weapon. The decent sportsmen of the country are a 

 unit in opposition to its use in the field ; but it will require more 

 than the combined efforts of any one class of people to shut it out 

 of the market. 



This appeal is therefore directed to all humanitarians ; to all 

 who believe in decency and moderation in the hunting of birds ; 

 to all who believe that a reasonable number of our birds should 

 be spared each year in order that they may propagate their 

 species; and finally, to the men and women of America who do 

 not believe in the killing of birds for sport at any time. There 

 are strong and cogent reasons why all shooting of American 

 wild birds should be prohibited, at least for a time ; but this is im- 

 possible at present. Then let us curtail the killing. Let us limit 

 the number of birds which any man may kill in a day, and by all 

 means let us provide by law that whatever killing is done shall 

 be done with decent weapons. 



There are good people in this country who are contributing 

 millions of dollars every year for the establishment of hospitals, 

 libraries, fresh air homes and excursions for the poor of the great 

 cities, and for other worthy charities and philanthropies. Why 

 should not a few thousand dollars be contributed by such people 

 for the preservation of the bird life of this country? If poor chil- 

 dren are to be sent into the country each summer ; if consump- 

 tives or other sufferers are to be sent to retreats in the mountains 

 to escape the ravages of disease ; why not provide something for 

 the preservation of birds, in order that these invalids or these poor 

 children may be cheered by songs and sights which add to the 

 attractiveness of their rural retreats? Why should not the insec- 

 tivorous birds, which do so much to save the fruits and farm 

 products of this country, be protected from the wretches who use 

 automatic shot guns? 



The great libraries are being provided with hundreds of books 

 descriptive of birds and bird life. We should provide that people 

 who read these books and who may afterward go to the country 

 may have a chance to see the birds they have read about. 



