CAUSES FOR THE DECREASE OF SONG BIRDS 9 
of the people who write for them and advertise in them 
belong to the same class. 
We do not want more birds in dark and dusty collec- 
tions ; we want more birds to sing to us and our children 
from bushes and tree tops. 
5. Birds on Hats. — The wearing of birds on hats 
has fearfully decreased, or almost exterminated a num- 
ber of bright-plumed southern birds. I have not learned 
of song birds being hunted in the central and northern 
states of the Mississippi basin to adorn ladies’ hats.1 
6. The English Sparrow.— There can be no doubt 
but that this pugilistic, chattering rogue worries away 
very many birds which would otherwise nest near our 
homes; however, its sins have probably been somewhat 
exaggerated. 
7. The Lack of Food. — Insects of nearly all kinds 
and waste grain are so abundant in every settled region 
that perhaps no species of song bird has decreased on 
account of lack of food during the summer time. For 
autumn and spring migrants and for winter residents 
there is no such regular and abundant food supply. 
8. The Extensive Use of Poison in Farming and Garden- 
ing. — I cite this asa possible cause for the decrease of 
birds. Since the potato-bug has spread over the whole 
....country every gardener and farmer uses large quantities 
1See: ‘*The Wearing of Heron’s Plumes or Aigrettes,’? by Frank 
M. Chapman. Published by the Audubon Societies of New Jersey and 
New York. Write for it to the secretary of any State Audubon 
Society. 
See also: ‘¢The Work of the Audubon Societies,’? by the same 
author, in the Delineator, March, 1898. 
