22 



LEGISLATION FOE THE PROTECTION OP BIRDS. 



ROBINS. 



In some sections of the South, particularly in New Orleans, all kinds 

 of small birds, even thrushes, are considered legitimate game, and are 

 offered for sale in the markets. According to Prof. H. Nehrling, 

 ' ' one main cause of the fearful decrease of our small migrator}^ birds 

 must be looked for in our Southern States. There, millions of all 

 kinds of birds are killed to satisfy the palate of the gourmand. * * * 

 There is scarcely a hotel in New Orleans where small birds do not 

 form an item on the bill of fare. At certain seasons the robin, wood 

 thrush, thrasher, olive-backed thrush, hermit thrush, chewink, flicker, 

 and man}^ of our beautiful sparrows fomi the bulk of these victims; 

 but cat-birds, cardinals, and almost all small birds, even s^oallmoi^^ can 



-^cr/^'. 



be found in th(> niai-kcts." ' Mr. Andrew Allison, of New OrU^ans, 

 gives similar testimony: "" In (lie fall migi'atioiis. when all the migrants 

 are literal butter-balls. ai)palliMg iuiinl)ei"s of cat-birds, wood thrushes, 

 red-eyed vireos, king birds, tanagers, and in fact any easily-shot birds 

 are killed * * * near the coast towns. Wood thrushes and cat- 

 ])irds are more persecuted than any other, under the name of f//'a.v.s'<'', 

 and many are sent to the markets here in September and October.'" 

 Robins {Menihi inn/ratori<( — tig. 7) arc pci'haps more generally kilh^l 

 than any of the other thrushes, and in some States their killing is 

 legalized at certain seasons — for example, in North Carolina, from 

 October 15 to April 1. A few years ago large luimbers of robins w ere 



'Sw W. T. Ilorniulay, 2<l Ann. Kei)t. N. Y. Z«)ol. .Sue, \^. 86, 1898. 



