CHAPTER XV 



AN INTRODUCTION TO THE BIRD WORLD 



Bird Destruction. — There are many things 

 to be learned about birds besides their names, 

 and their length in millimetres. To-day the 

 first thing to be taught is the fact that from 

 this time henceforth all birds must he protected, 

 or they mill all be exterminated. 



To-day, it is a safe estimate that there is a 

 loaded cartridge for each living bird. Each 

 succeeding year produces a new crop of gun- 

 demons, eager to slay, ambitious to make records 

 as sportsmen or collectors. If a bird is so un- 

 fortunate 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. 

 Quite recently two "plume-hunters" went at the 

 risk of their lives to Tiburon Island, Gulf of 

 Lower California, to kill egrets for their plumes; 

 and both were killed by the savage Indians there. 



In 1897-98 the writer made for the New York 

 Zoological Society a careful inquiry into the vol- 

 ume of bird life in the United States, with special 

 reference to its increase or decrease during the 

 fifteen years prior to that date. From one hun- 

 dred and eighty competent and conscientious 

 observers, representing thirty-four states and 

 territories, reports were received in answer to a 

 series of questions, all of which were carefully 

 tabulated.! Throughout my calculations, wher- 

 ever a doubt existed, the living birds were given 

 the full benefit of it. 



Four states, Kansas, Wyoming, Utah and 

 Washington, show an increase in bird-life. Thirty 

 states show decreases varying from ten per cent, 

 to ninety per cent., but with a general average 

 decrease from 1883 to 1898 of forty-six per cent..' 

 In the adjoining detailed statement, the shaded 

 portions show the percentages of decrease 

 throughout the states named during the period 

 reported upon: 



' " The Destruction of Our Birds and Mammals." 

 By William T. Homaday. Second Annual Report 

 (1898) of the New York Zoological Society. Until 

 the present edition is exhausted, copies of this paper 

 will be mailed to teachers, on application. 



DECREASE IN BIRD LIFE IN 30 STATES, 

 IN 15 TEARS. 



Maine 52% 



New Hampshire. .32% 



Vermont 30% 



Massaciiusetts . , .27% 



Rliode Island 60% 



Connecticut 75% 



New York ,...48% 



New Jersey 37 % 



Pennsylvania 51 % 



Oliio 38% 



Indiana 60% 



Illinois 38% 



Michigan 23% 



Wisconsin 40% 



Iowa 37% 



Missouri 36% 



Nebraska 10% 



North Dakota 58% 



Dist. of Columbia. 33% 



South Carolina... 32% 



Georgia 65% 



Florida 77% 



Mississippi 37 % 



Louisiana 55% 



Arkansas 50% 



Texas 67% 



Indian Territory. 76% 



Montana 75% 



Colorado 28% 



Idaho 40% 



Average of above. 46% 



Since the above inquiry was made, the volume 

 of bird-life appears to have changed so slightly 

 that in 1903 conditions are practically as they 

 were in 1898. 



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