great multitudes of birds of many species found a boun- 

 teous repast spread for tliem along that vast stretch of 

 coast. Yet, although food conditions are almost as favor- 

 able as they were when Champlain first explored these 

 shores, only a pitiable remnant of the birds remains. 



The continual hunting and shooting of birds through- 

 out the Atlantic States and the Maritime Provinces, with 

 the destruction of their nests, eggs, and young for food 

 and for commercial purposes, has swept the coast like 

 a destructive storm, annihilating far the greater part 

 of the bird life that formerly existed there. The multi- 

 tude of swans, snow geese, great auks, wild turkeys, and 

 wild pigeons that were seen by the earlier explorers are 

 gone, and with them are also gone the Labrador ducks, 

 cranes, spruce partridges, and Kskimo curlew, while 

 many other shore birds and water fowl have become rare 

 almost to disappearance, although prompt measures yet 

 would bring them back. 



It now seems as though the tide were turning and 

 that the destructive evils of the past may at last be 

 stayed, but the enactment of laws alone will not secure 

 results. All students of the subject now agree that no 

 plan for the jDreservation of birds in any country can 

 succeed unless adequate and well-selected bird refuges 

 are provided — absolute sanctuaries where all shooting or 

 disturbance is prevented, where the birds that breed 

 locally can nest in safety, and where migratory birds 

 that summer in the farther north can find shelter and 

 protection on their long migrations. 



Every year's delay counts heavily against the birds. 

 The forces of destruction are constantly increasing, and 

 the need of sanctuaries where no shooting will ever be 

 allowed has grown urgent to the last degree. 



The shape and geographical position of the continent 

 of North America are such that during the migration sea- 

 son, twice a year, bird-life goes crowding up or down 



4 



