BIRDS 



91 



73. Causes of decrease in bird life. — Certainly enough 

 has been said to show that when all things are considered 

 birds are exceedingly useful to man. One would therefore 

 expect that every possible means would be taken to protect 

 all kinds of valuable birds. Yet what do we find? " To- 

 day the first thing to be taught is the fact that from this 

 time henceforth all birds must be protected, or they will all 

 be exterminated. To-day, it is a safe estimate that there is 

 a loaded cartridge for every living bird. Each succeeding 

 year produces a new crop of gun-demons, eager to slay, am- 

 bitious to make records as sportsmen or collectors. If a 

 bird is so unfortunate as to possess plumes, or flesh which 

 can be sold for ten cents, the mob of pot-hunters seeks it 

 out, even unto the ends of the earth." — Hornaday's "The 

 American Natural History." 



A careful investigation made in 1897 for the New York Zoo- 



