﻿Reservations 



243 



wardens to exercise more than a superficial oversight in this great territory. 

 That these guards are doing good there is no doubt, both in the actual 

 protection to breeding birds and also as object lessons to the residents of the 

 district. To make an accurate estimate of the annual increase is impossible, 



YOUNG HERRING GULL 

 Photographed by H. K. Job, at No Man's Land Island, Mass. 



as the territory is too large ; only the general result can be seen. There is 

 no doubt about the increase in Laughing Gulls, Common and Forster's 

 Terns, and Black Skimmers, but such species as Oyster-catchers, Willet, 

 Wilson's Plover, Gull-billed and Royal Terns are only holding their own. 

 When a species gets reduced below a certain point in a locality, it seems 

 almost impossible to prevent its gradual disappearance. Clapper Rails are not 

 increasing, owing to three reasons: first, storm tides during the breeding 

 season; second, the exceedingly wasteful practice of egging, and lastly, ex- 

 cessive shooting. The storm tides cannot be prevented, therefore it is 



