xii PREFACE. 



species of the Water Fowl, and th,erefore commence with : 

 the Swan instead of the Mergansers. 



In this and the two preceding, volumes have been in-' 

 eluded all the birds inhabiting North Amei:ica, north of 

 Mexico, which can be considered " Game," save perhaps 

 the Rails, which by many are deemed worthy of being 

 so classed. It is a noble list; one few countries of the 

 globe can equal in importance and variety. For numer- 

 ous reasons, 'not the least of which are the economic^ 

 these birds are a most valuable possession to the people: 

 of this land, to be protected with watchful care. Have 

 we been faithful to our trust? ;, 



In the willful destruction of all our feathered creature^| 

 that has been permitted without restraint for a long 

 period throughout North America, and which receives 

 but little check to-day in some districts; in the lack 

 of all intelligent treatment of them within our limits;, 

 and in the non-enforcement of laws passed for their 

 protection, our birds (not only, alas! those entitied 

 to the epithet of " game ") are being carried rapidly 

 onward toward extinction. Our wild quadrupeds, 

 also, are fast disappearing. One, the grandest of all, 

 is even now practically extinct, and unless stringent' 

 measures are soon taken and the laws for both their pro- 

 tection and for that of all other wild creatures rigidly en- 

 forced, waters without their beautiful, joyous tenants, and 

 plains and forests despoiled of their graceful inhabitants, 

 will bear silent but eloquent witness to the folly of a 

 people unable to appreciate the valuable gifts Nature had 

 bestowed upon them. 



D. G. E. 



