284 THE SLAUGHTER OF NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS 



1875, before the scientific world even knew that its existence 

 was threatened. With this species, the exact and final cause 

 of its extinction is to this day unknown. It is not at all 

 probable, however, that its unfortunate blotting out from 

 our bird fauna was due to natural causes and, when the truth 

 becomes known, it is very probable that the hand of man will 

 be revealed. 



The Labrador Duck bred in Labrador, and once frequented 

 our Atlantic coast as far south as Chesapeake Bay; but it is 

 said that it never was very numerous, at least during the 

 twenty -five years preceding its disappearance. About thirty- 

 five skins and mounted museum specimens are all that remain 

 to prove its former existence, and I think there is not even 

 one skeleton. 



The Pallas Cormorant, Carbo perspicillatus (Pallas). — 

 In 1741, when the Russian explorer, Commander Bering, dis- 

 covered the Bering or Commander Islands, in the far-north 

 Pacific, and landed upon them, he also discovered this strik- 

 ing bird species. Its plumage both above and below was a 

 dark metallic-green, with blue iridescence on the neck and 

 purple on the shoulders. A pale ring of naked skin around 

 each eye suggested the Latin specific name of this bird. The 

 Pallas Cormorant became totally extinct, through causes not 

 positively known, about 1852. 



The Passenger Pigeon. — This extinct species has already 

 been set forth in preceding pages. 



The Eskimo Curlew, Numenius borealis (Forst.). — This 

 valuable game bird once ranged all along the Atlantic coast 

 of North America, and wherever found it was prized for the 



