Protection of North American Birds. 157 



for the season. The unusual southward extension of severe 

 cold waves and heavy snow-falls, such as have marked the 

 present winter, are destructive to the bird-life of the regions 

 thus exceptionally visited. During the migrations, both 

 in the fall and spring, immense numbers of birds are some- 

 times caught by storms, and blown far out to sea and 

 drowned, or perish in attempts to cross the larger inland 

 lakes. There is abundant evidence to show that the annual 

 destruction of birds by the elements alone must prove a 

 severe check upon their increase. But all this is a part of 

 nature's routine, which has characterized past ages as well 

 as the present, and which, so far as we know, may be only 

 the natural and necessary check upon undue increase. It 

 is only when man comes upon the scene that nature's ba- 

 lance is seriously disturbed. 



" Man's destructive influence is to some extent unavoid- 

 able, but in far greater part selfish and wanton. The removal 

 of forests, the drainage of swamps and marshes, the con- 

 version of wild lands into farms, and the countless changes 

 incident to the settlement of the country, destroy the haunts 

 and the means of subsistence of numerous forms of animal 

 life, and practically result in their extermination over, vast 

 areas. The birds, particularly the larger species, suffer in 

 common with vertebrate life in general. Electric-light 

 towers, light-houses, and light- ships are also a fruitful and 

 modern source of disaster to birds, particularly during their 

 migrations, when, in thick weather, thousands upon thou- 

 sands kill themselves by dashing against these alluring- 

 obstructions. Telegraph-wires contribute also largely to 

 the destruction of bird-life. While the destruction by these 

 agencies is greatly to be regretted, it is not directly charge- 

 able to cupidity and heartlessness, as is the far greater 

 slaughter of birds in obedience to the dictates of fashion. 



" The history of this country, as is well known, is the 

 record of unparalleled destruction of the larger forms of 

 animal life. Much of this destruction, it is true, was 

 unavoidable, sooner or later. But it is no less true that 

 the extirpation of our larger game animals has been need- 

 lessly hastened by what may be fairly termed a disgraceful 



