6 Decrease of Birds 



The questions used by Mr. Forbush have been slightly 

 changed to suit conditions in this State. In the form and 

 treatment of the subject matter, the reports of Dr. Horna- 

 day and Mr. Forbush have been very closely followed. 



Evidence of Former Abundance 



As an aid to the understanding and appreciation of the 

 results of the investigation into the conditions affecting 

 bird life in this State at the present time, a few extracts 

 will be given from explorers, historians and colonists con- 

 cerning the former abundance of game in South Carolina: 



Hilton, in his ' 'Relation of a Discovery' ' (1664) says: 

 1 'The Country abounds with Grapes, large Figs and Peaches; 

 the Woods with Deer, Conies, Turkeys, Quails, Curlues, 

 Plovors, Teile, Herons; and as the Indians say, in Winter 

 with Swans, Geese, Cranes, Duck and Mallard, and innu- 

 merable of other water Fowls, whose names we know not 

 which lie in the Rivers, Marshes, and on the Sands." 1 

 Robert Home, in his ' 'Description of the Province of Caro- 

 lina" (1666) writes: "The Woods are stored with Deer and 

 Wild Turkey." He also says: "... in the little 

 Winter they have an abundance of wild Geese, Ducks, 

 Teals, and Widgeon— and many other pleasant Fowl." 2 



In "An Account of the Province of Carolina" (1682) we 

 find: "On the Rivers and Brooks are all the Wintei 

 Months vast quantities of Swan, wild Geese, Duck, Wid- 

 geon, Teal, Curlew, Snipe, Shel Drake, and a certain sort 

 of Black Duck that is an excellent meat and stays there 

 the year round. " 3 In John Archdale's "Description" (1707) 

 he relates: "There is also vast Quantities or Numbers of 

 Wild Ducks, Geese, Teal." 4 



Lawson, in his account of his travels in Carolina (1718) 



1 Hilton (William) : A Relation of a Discovery lately made on the 

 Coast of Florida. (From Lat. 31 to 33 deg. 45 min. North-Lat. ) , Lon- 

 don, 1664. 



2 Home (Robert) : A Brief Description of the Province of Carolina, 

 London, 1666. 



3 Reprinted in Carroll's Historical Cellections. 



4 Salley's Narratives of Early Carolina, Scribners, 1911. p. 289. 



