PREFACE ix 



of New Haven, Connecticut, for his observations on the birds of Pea Island; of 

 Mr. William Brewster of Cambridge, Massachusetts, for data on specimens of 

 North Carolina birds in his collection; and of Mr. Waldron DeWitt Miller for 

 critically reviewing the identification keys. 



The Survey and authors are indebted to the National Association of Audubon 

 Societies for very valuable assistance in editing and preparing the manuscript of 

 this volume, and we wish herewith to express our grateful appreciation for the 

 many courtesies extended to us by this association. 



In the preparation of this volume, the authors have given their time to the work 

 very willingly and enthusiastically, without remuneration other than the pleasure 

 that they may derive from the thought and hope that they may be able to arouse 

 in some slight degree a more lively appreciation of the value of studying and pre- 

 serving the rich bird-life with which North Carolina is so abundantly blessed. 

 They have shared the labor in preparing the manuscript, and have, without stint, 

 revised one another's writings. The final drafting of the manuscript, however, as 

 well as the superintending of the preparation of the illustrations, has been done 

 by Mr. Pearson. 



When we consider the great economic importance of wild birds as destroyers of 

 many of those insects which are injurious to growing crops, stored grain, fruit 

 trees and forests, and also the value of the esthetic effect of their presence about 

 the home, we marvel that any citizen should permit the wanton killing of useful 

 species on his premises. Our native game birds, such as the Ruffed Grouse, Quail, 

 Wild Turkey, Woodcock, and the various species of Wild Ducks and Geese, are of 

 such inestimable value to the State that it is a matter of regret that as yet there 

 has been no adequate legislative enactment looking to their preservation. The Sur- 

 vey and the authors, in this connection, urge the abolition of the multitudinous and 

 confusing local county game laws, and a substitution in their place of State-wide 

 uniform laws regulating the seasons when the various kinds of birds and game 

 animals may be taken; and the establishment of a State Game Commission, to be 

 supported by a fund collected from resident and nonresident hunters' licenses. In 



