in South Carolina 15 



they had been reduced by destructive agencies which 

 have been in operation since the settlement of the country. 



While in the immediate vicinity of the observer there 

 may be slight change for the better, in the State at large, 

 the forces of destruction are still at work. A reference 

 to the table shows that, in contrast to the sixteen reports 

 from fourteen counties of birds holding their own, there 

 are thirty-seven reports of decrease of birds generally. 



The following testimony is both instructive and interest- 

 ing as it shows a few of the reasons why, in the opinion 

 of these observers, birds are not decreasing, or are hold- 

 ing their own in some parts of the State. 



Mr. C. W. Whisonant, Cherokee, writes: "As to what 

 has operated to save the birds, I think the law against 

 hunting at certain seasons has done as much as any other 

 agency and there are not as many dogs as there used to 

 be. People generally seem to be trying to take care of 

 the birds, especially the landowners/ ' 



Mr. W. B. Ryan, Jasper, asserts: "Birds are holding 

 their own in this county because they are protected by 

 the various hunting clubs who own in the aggregate, 150 

 and 200 thousand acres of land. They are all posted 

 and guarded, and in the case of the Okatie Club, have 

 special nesting protection." Mr. Karl Dargan, Darling- 

 ton, writes: "Our section is thinly settled and we have 

 quite a lot of woods and swamps that the birds raise in, 

 and we have tried to protect all kinds of birds on our 

 place for some years." Dr. Wade Stackhouse, Dillon, 

 reports: "Thoughtless boys with guns kill far fewer 

 birds than they did a few years ago. Extensively cleared 

 fields have done much to diminish bird life. Constant 

 agitation of the subject will have its effect." 



Mr. M. H. Fripp, Jasper, writes: "Insect-eating and 

 song birds are the same for the last fifteen years. Salt- 

 water birds, Plovers and Herons, decreasing. Chelsea 

 Plantation Club protects all kinds of birds, especially game 

 birds. On the estates of William and John Fripp there 

 are all kinds of birds. We seldom allow any one to 

 shoot." Mr. C. W. Boykin, Williamsburg, reports: "I 



