148 Bird -Lore 



When I hear of the destruction of a species I feel just as if all the works of 

 some great writer had perished ; as if we had lost all instead of only part of 

 Polybius or Livy. Very truly yours, 



THEODORE ROOSEVELT. 



My dear Mr. Chapman : 



* * * It was the greatest pleasure to sign the Hallock bill. Let me 

 take this chance of writing a word to you in behalf of the work of your 

 Society. It would be hard to overestimate the importance of its educational 

 effects. Half, and more than half, the beauty of the woods and fields is 

 gone when they lose the harmless wild things, while, if we could only ever 

 get our people to the point of taking a universal and thoroughly intelligent 

 interest in the preservation of game-birds and fish, the result would be an 

 important addition to our food supply. Ultimately, people are sure to 

 realize that to kill off all game-birds and net out all fish streams is not much 

 more sensible than it would be to kill off all our milch cows and brood 

 mares. As for the birds that are the special object of the preservation of 

 your Society, we should keep them just as we keep trees. They add im- 

 measurably to the wholesome beauty of life. 



Faithfully yours, 

 (Signed) THEODORE ROOSEVELT. 



SDIiTARY SANDPIPER 

 From nature, by T. L. Hankinson Axton. Adirondacks, N. Y., Sept. 5, 1899 



