36 Decrease of Birds 



well-fed cat and the well-cared-for dog take their toll of 

 bird life, to say nothing of the injury done by the count- 

 less numbers of homeless cats and half-starved, half-breed 

 dogs which overrun the country. 



The reports show that the destruction is great to ground 

 nesting birds, the noble Bobwhite being the chief suf- 

 ferer. The following varieties of dogs are mentioned as 

 doing the harm: Bird dogs, half-breed pointers and set- 

 ters, roaming dogs, curs, hounds, mongrels, the "yaller 

 dog", half -fed curs, half-breed dogs, half -starved curs of 

 bird dog mixture, stray dogs, loose curs, half-starved 

 hounds, etc. Most of these except bird dogs are spoken 

 of as ' 'belonging mostly to negroes and irresponsible par- 

 ties, living off the country and generally escaping tax- 

 ation.' ' Mr. Patrick Wall of Beaufort estimates that they 

 do 20% of the injury. He writes: "These dogs belong to 

 negroes who do not feed them. They break down our 

 corn and eat it from the time it is in the mutton until it is 

 harvested. ' ' 



Mr. E. C. Epps, Williamsburg, says: "It is impossible 

 even to estimate this loss." Mr. J. H. Steele, York, 

 says: ' 'The negro and his dog do more damage to birds than 

 natural enemies, both in a direct and an indirect way." 

 Mr. C. W. Boykin, Williamsburg, reports: "Yellow dogs 

 and starved out negroes' dogs are very destructive to the 

 nests and young of birds. ■ ' Mr. L. W. Boykin, Kershaw, 

 believes: "50% of the destruction to Bob whites is done 

 by stray or half-breed dogs belonging to negroes. They 

 have a good chance to break up nests on account of the 

 scarcity of cover. ' '.' 



Mr. B. D. Dargan, Florence, writes: "Considerable 

 destruction is done by poorly fed and half-breed dogs 

 which have to get their living the best they can." Mr. E. 

 M. Andrews, Darlington, writes: "Fifty per cent of 

 destruction is done by bird dogs loping around in spring 

 and summer." Dr. L. B. Bates, Calhoun, reports: "Very 

 great destruction is done as negroes own a great many 

 dogs which have to hunt for their living. Not only bird 

 dogs but all kinds of dogs do this destructive work." Mr. 



