222 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [P. D. 4. 



primeval man ever exterminated any bird that possessed more 

 than very limited powers of flight. Most of the species that 

 were extirpated by the aboriginal inhabitants of all countries 

 were great flightless land and water birds. The swift flying 

 birds were able in a great measure to escape the destructive 

 weapons of early man, and it has remained for civilized man 

 to create a demand for dead birds in great quantities and to 

 produce weapons to strike unerringly the bird in the air. 

 Thus the nineteenth century saw the extinction of far more 

 species of birds than any other within historic times. 



Since the beginning of history, man (assisted by his satellites 

 the cat, dog, rat, hog, etc.) has been responsible, directly or 

 indirectly, for the extermination of most if not all of the species 

 of birds that have disappeared from the earth; but I have re- 

 ferred to this at length in other papers^ and cannot repeat 

 my observations here. 



MAN'S SATELLITES AND ASSISTANTS IN EXTERMINATION. 



Man's proteges, which, by reason of his care or protection 

 and because of introduction by him into new countries, become 

 unduly destructive to bird life, consist first of the species that 

 he domesticates or partially domesticates and then allows to 

 run at large. Such are the cat, the dog and the hog, in the 

 order of their significance. Next in importance are the crea- 

 tures which he introduces intentionally or inadvertently from 

 one country into another, and which being free in the new 

 country from the restraint exercised in their native land by 

 their natural enemies, increase unduly. Such are the rat, 

 the mongoose, the English sparrow and the starling. Finally 

 we may consider the domesticated animals which ordinarily 

 are confined or controlled, such as the horse, ox, sheep and 

 goat. The hog may be included in this group in New Eng- 

 land, as hogs are not allowed to run wild here. 



1 Special Report on the Decrease of Birds and its Causes, pp. 477-486; Useful Birds and their 

 Protection, pp. 356-361; Game Birds, Wild Fowl and Shore Birds, Part II., pp. 399-494. 



