508 GAME BIRDS. WILD-FOWL AND SHORE BIRDS. 



too short a time to furnish authoritative data regarding the 

 increase or decrease of a species, as fluctuations in numbers or 

 local changes caused by an increase or depletion of the food 

 supply may form the basis of such reports. "Hope springs 

 eternal in the human breast," and a temporary increase or 

 congestion of birds in a certain locality often is regarded as a 

 significant increase of the species. 



Many ornithologists who in their published papers have 

 written of the numbers of certain species have been thus de- 

 ceived, and should have written in the past tense when de- 

 scribing the abundance of certain birds. They have failed to 

 realize how much conditions have changed. There are many 

 people who believe that the Passenger Pigeon still exists 

 somewhere in large numbers, and will come back. There 

 are others who believe that they recently have seen this and 

 other extinct species. It is difficult for the younger generation 

 of gunners to realize that birds are decreasing or to admit it 

 until the decrease has become very marked. 



The Recuperative Powers of Nature. 



The game preserver may be encouraged in his work by 

 the fact that, however rapid the depletion of game, its restora- 

 tion under natural conditions is sure and swift. Wherever a 

 species is reduced much in numbers the conditions become 

 more favorable for its increase. When birds become few the 

 supply of food per bird is increased greatly, which stimulates 

 the reproductive powers. The number of covers and suitable 

 nesting places is larger in proportion, owing to the decreased 

 numbers of the birds, and the competition for food and other 

 necessities is decreased. Thus, unless a species is subject to 

 undue persecution by mankind, a speedy increase commonly 

 follows any sudden decrease; except, perhaps, in cases where 

 the depletion has gone too far, when extermination results. 

 With the game preserver it is never too late to restock. " While 

 there is life there is hope." 



The possible increase of a game bird under artificial propa- 

 gation may be illustrated in the following manner: if we 



