CHECKS UPON INCREASE OF USEFUL BIRDS. 359 



that the people have taken to killing the smaller species, and 

 the killing of small birds is regarded as sport. An Italian 

 sportsman will secure a small live Owl, fasten it on a pole 

 to attract the birds, take his station near by, and shoot every 

 small bird that appears ; poachers stretch great nets in places 

 where birds come to 

 feed or drink ; and thus 

 the small birds that are 

 reared under protection 

 in northern Europe are 

 slaughtered on their 

 migrations in the south. 

 The steady stream of 

 immigration from Italy 

 to America constitutes 

 a great menace to the 

 smaller birds, as well as 

 to all birds and all ani- 

 mals that are eatable. 

 Unless this element of 

 population is prohibited 

 from carrying guns, the 

 effect of their inroads 

 upon bird life will soon 

 be manifest here. Trustworthy correspondents state that 

 the Italian contract laborers kill practically all the birds in 

 the neighborhood of their camps. Many Italians trap birds 

 by means of birdlime or trap cages. Boys with shot guns, 

 "air rifles," and various destructive weapons, shoot at any- 

 thing that offers a fair mark. The improvement in firearms 

 and the reduction in their price go hand in hand with the con- 

 stant increase in the number of people able to bear arms, the 

 augmentation of the number of crack shots, and the acces- 

 sion to the number of dogs trained to hunt birds. 



Snares are still much used, even where forbidden by 

 law. Children, especially boys, destroy the nests and eggs 

 of birds, thus constituting a considerable check on bird in- 

 crease. The mania for collecting birds' eggs is widespread. 

 Some boys use the nests of birds for targets and their eggs 



.Fig. 154. The Italian sportsman and his decoy 

 Owl. (From Bird-Lore.) 



