THE SLAUGHTER OF BIRDS FOR FOOD 243 



NO. REPORTS 



9. Italians, and others, who devour song-birds 12 



10. Cheap firearms 5 



11. Drainage of marshes 5 



12. Non-enforcement of laws 5 



13. Gun-clubs and hunting contests 5 



14. Collectors (ornithologists and taxidermists) 5 



15. Colored population l 4 



16. Indians (for decrease of game quadrupeds) 4 



The Slaughter of Birds for Food. — The craze for 

 the destruction of bird life is almost beyond belief. No matter 

 how much the bird-protectors may say about the destruction 

 of our birds, and their impending extermination, far more 

 than the half will remain untold. As our game birds become 

 fewer and fewer, the market shooters begin to slaughter 

 birds of song and beauty, which twenty years ago were safe 

 because they were not considered "game." Even twenty 

 years ago no self-respecting American would have lowered 

 himself to the level of the hawk and buzzard by killing and 

 eating the poor little sandpiper and snow bunting. But mark 

 what is going on to-day: 



In 1903 there came into the courts the case of the People 

 of the State of New York against two men of New York 

 City, to enforce the payment of fines amounting to $1,168,315 

 for having in their possession contrary to law, in a cold- 

 storage warehouse, certain dead birds out of season, game 

 and not game. When the state game wardens searched the 

 premises of the defendants, they found the following appalling 

 mass of birds: 



'Since the rise in the price of cotton put ;i shotgun into the hands of every 

 adult male country negro in the South, this factor of destruction has risen to 

 aboul the fourl h place. 



