8 Decrease of Birds 



early period of its settlement, were known annually to 

 frequent the island in great variety and numbers. " J 



In Mills's Statistics (1836), after speaking of the former 

 abundance of game in Laurens District, the writer says: 

 "This abundance of wild game has in a measure disap- 

 peared from the rapid population of the country. A few 

 deer and wild turkey remain." 



In 1850 William Elliott writes: "I cannot but perceive 

 with regret that there are causes in operation which have 

 destroyed and are yet destroying the game to that extent, 

 that in another generation, this manly pastime will no 

 longer be in our reach." And again he says: "It is the 

 wanton, uncalled for destruction of forests and game 

 which I reprehend." 10 



A Summary of Reports by Counties 



A tabulated statement by counties of the reports regard- 

 ing the decrease of birds. 



Name of 



General 



Decrease 



Holding 



Birds In- 



County 



Decrease 



of Species 



Own 



creasing 



Abbeville 



3 









Aiken 



5 









Anderson 



3 



1 



1 





Bamberg 



3 



2 



1 





Barnwell 



3 









Beaufort 



4 









Berkeley 



2 





1 





Calhoun 



4 



1 







Charleston 



4 



1 





3 



Cherokee 



1 



1 



1 





Chester 



3 









Chesterfield 



1 









Clarendon 



2 



1 







9Ramsay, David: History of South Carolina, Charleston, 1809. Vol. 

 2, p. 555. 



lOElliott, William: Carolina Sports by Land and Water. New York, 

 1850, p. 106. 



