at s 
Birds of Massachusetts. g 901 
are the hawk, the skunk, and the greatest of all 
destroyers, man. 
The only place where they are now found in Mas- 
sachusetts, is in Martha's Vineyard, and one small 
island near it; and there, though pains are taken to 
protect them, they are said to diminish fast, the high 
price which they command in the market, being a 
strong temptation to shoot them. Cats, also, which 
run wild in the island, do their part in the work of 
extermination. 'The wonder is, that with all their 
timidity, they have remained so long, but their pa- 
tience and their attachment to their old haunts will 
be wearied out, and other means must be found to 
gratify the epicure's taste, and the sportsman's love 
of pleasure. The order of nature supplies such 
game, as a resource for the pioneers of civilization, 
while the process of clearing the soil goes on; till 
the earth is subdued, the deer, the birds, and the 
fish, supply means of sustaining life. But when 
agriculture, and the other arts of life, begin to be 
pursued with profit and success, these resources cease 
to be needed ; the habits of the hunter are inconsis- 
tent with regular industry ; and as the game would 
only serve to tempt men away from their cares and 
duties, the forests and streams are deserted, and 
their wild tenants go where there are other adven- 
turers who need them. If the gallinaceous tribes 
can be preserved, it is by domestication, not by law. 
Experiments should be made for several years in 
succession, and if these fail, we must make up our 
minds to lose them. 
e VOL. I11.—no. Lm 26 
ae 
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