AVIDK SPREAD DESTRUCTION OF BIRDS 



247 



by hundreds to slowly starve l<> death. In this way the fatty tissue 

 lying nexl to the skin was used up, and the skin was left quite free from 

 grease, so thai il required little or no cleaning during preparation. 



Many other revolting sights, such as the remains of young birds that 

 had been lefl to starve, and birds with broken legs and deformed beaks 

 were to be seen. Killing clubs, nets and other implements used by these 

 marauders were lying all about. Hundreds of boxes to be used in snipping 



THE LAST OF THE LOOT. 



About twenty-five thousand of the wings collected bj the bird-butchers of Laysan, now decaying 



In tliis old shed. 



the bird skins were packed in an old building. It was very evident they 

 intended to carry on their slaughter as long as the birds la-ted. 



Not only did they kill and skin the larger species bul they caught and 

 caged the finch, honey-eater, and miller bird. Cages and material for 

 making them were found.— (Report of an Expedition to Laysan Island 

 in 1911. By Homer R. Dill, page 12.) 



The report of Professor Bryan contains the following 



pertinent paragraphs: 



This whole-ale killing has had an appalling effect <>n the colony. . . . 

 It is conservative to say thai fully one-half the number of birds of both 



