in South Carolina 25 



Tabulated List of Causes (Con.) 



Case Number Reporting 



Increase in number of guns 3 



Rapid transportation afforded by automobiles 3 



Use of automatic and pump guns 2 



Outside hunters from North 2 



Trapping 2 



Negro houses in corners of woods : 1 



Improvement in fire-arms and use of smokeless powder 1 



Cheap guns 1 



Fishermen who carry guns and shoot promiscuously . . 1 



Imported Enemies 



Cats 52 



English Sparrows 32 



Dogs 31 



Hogs 1 



Sportsmen and So-called Sportsmen 



Among all the forces which destroy bird life, in the 

 opinion of those reporting on this question, the man who 

 shoots takes first rank, ninety-seven votes placing him at 

 the head of the list. Of the thirty-three causes of destruc- 

 tion given, twenty relate to shooting, six to man's activi- 

 ties which result in the destruction of food plants, nesting 

 sites and cover, four to harmful species of animals which 

 man has turned loose on birds. Of the three remaining 

 causes given, nest robbing and trapping result in direct 

 destruction while the decrease in the amount of grain 

 sown would affect a species locally only. 



Under present conditions, the only excuses which 

 man can offer for his direct destruction of bird life are 

 those of food and sport. Doubtless much barbarity is 

 often practiced and many crimes committed in the name 

 of sport. Today much is being heard of the ' 'Ethics of 

 Sportsmanship," and in, at least one of the sportsmen's 



