187 6.] Destruction of Birds by Telegraph Wire. 735 
larks (Eremophila), flocks of which were almost continually in 
sight; and the next most characteristic species was Maccown’s 
bunting (Plectrophanes Maccownii). Almost immediately upon 
riding by the telegraph wire, I noticed a dead lark; and as I 
passed several more in quick succession, my attention was aroused. 
The position of the dead birds enabled me to trace cause and ef- 
` fect, before I actually witnessed a case of the killing. The bodies 
lay in every instance nearly or directly beneath the wire. A 
crippled bird was occasionally seen fluttering along the road. 
Becoming interested in the matter, I began to count, and de- 
sisted only after actually counting a hundred in the course of 
one hour’s leisurely riding — representing perhaps a distance of 
three miles. Nor was it long before I saw birds strike the wire, 
and fall stunned to the ground ; three such cases were witnessed 
during the hour. One bird had its wing broken ; another was 
picked up dying in convulsions from the force of the blow. 
The eyeballs of sevéral dead ones I examined were started from 
their sockets, and the feathers of the forehead were torn off, in- 
dicating a violent blow upon the head ; but in most cases there 
was left no outward mark of the fatal internal, injury. Along 
some particular stretches of wire where, for whatever reason, 
birds had congregated, the dead ones averaged at least one to 
every interval between the poles; sometimes two or three lay 
together, showing where a flock had passed by, and been deci- 
mated. The great majority of the birds destroyed consisted of . 
larks; I noticed perhaps half a dozen buntings, one nee 
starling (Sturnella magna neglecta), and oas green-winged ani 
(Querquedula Carolinensis). The proportion of larks a me : 
‘ably due in the main simply to their greater abundance ; bu 
presume that their singularly wayward, impulsive flight may 
have increased the risk of striking the wires. They were the 
only birds I saw knocked down; and I noticed, or fancied I 
noticed, some hesitation and confusion in their flight when the 
flocks crossed the line of wire. 
From ae facts, which I simply narrate, one may attempt to 
estimate, if he wishes, the extent of the destruction which, ae 
have already said, goes on incessantly. Given, one se 
dead birds to three miles of wire, all killed, perhaps, sses a 7 
week ; or, given three birds seen to strike and fall in an pe 
how many are annually killed by the telegraph seag i pw 
Uhited States? I should be'sorry to suppose, however, that *he 
rate of destruction I witnessed ig not at or near the maximum ; 
