32 | REV. MR. PEABODY’S REPORT. April, 
To say that they are almost gone, is speaking comparatively ; for, 
though their present numbers are nothing compared with former 
times, many are yet to be found. The water birds, which can 
retreat from persecution, are less wasted than the rest. ‘The land 
birds are emigrating fast to securer regions. But the wild turkey, 
thought by many to be extinct in the Atlantic states, is found every 
year on the Holyoke range near Connecticut river, and other moun- 
tains at the west. The Pinuated grous, formerly so common that 
domestics stipulated not to be fed with it too often, is met with in 
small numbers in Martha’s Vineyard. The ruffed grous, one of the 
greatest luxuries of the table, is sold in all our markets; and the 
quail is abundant in our woods. 
Still the time is not distant when they must yield to the law of na- 
ture. The only chance to preserve them is, to change their habits by 
domestication, which in some instances is done with success. The 
Canada goose, the mallard, and some other birds of passage, have 
been tamed without difficulty ; and many others, like the beautiful 
summer duck, which it has not been thought worth while to tame, 
will doubtless become dependent on human care. The quail and 
grous are perhaps too vagrant in their habits ; but careful and perse- 
vering effort may succeed, even where many attempts have been 
made in vain. 
But a more important object of the survey is to ascertain, with 
respect to many birds which man pursues with unrelenting vengeance, 
whether they are really as injurious as is commonly supposed. ‘The 
crow, the grakles, and other birds of that description, do certainly 
make havoc with the corn. The cedar birds, robins, cat-birds, and 
others make large demands upon the garden ; but it is certain that 
the grubs which they devour, would, if suffered to live, destroy all 
the promise of the year ; and while we have nothing but the birds to 
protect us from these destroyers, there are some means already 
known, and many others will be discovered, to prevent the birds 
from taking more than their share. 
If any one will consider the subject, he will see, that insects: 
are by far the most formidable enemy man has to contend with. 
The moscheto, for example, occasions far more suffering, and is ac- 
tually more feared than the lion. Other enemies, equally contempti- 
