25 
look back, that we saw many tremendous flights of warblers 
in those days, but the records show few. 
Mr. Abbot H. Thayer of Monadnock, N. H., where many 
of the repressive forces which exist in eastern Massachusetts 
are almost unknown, who takes a very optimistic view of 
the matter, says that asking the public, or even so-called 
ornithologists, whether they find birds diminished, is as de- 
ceptive in its results as a look at the telegraph poles along a 
road. Just where the observer stands there is one pole or 
none, while a glance back down the road reveals a massed 
accumulation one against another, — all due to perspective. 
One’s past, he says, is so well stocked with so many remem- 
bered sights of rare and beautiful birds that only a very 
philosophical mind can escape the impression that birds 
were formerly constantly in sight, whereas one really saw 
few in some seasons, as is the case to-day. 
Lest the conditions in Massachusetts regarding the smaller 
birds might prove exceptional, and the results of the inves- 
tigation misleading, the inquiry has been extended somewhat 
into other populous States of the Atlantic seaboard. The 
reports seem to indicate that with some exceptions the smal- 
ler birds are not generally decreasing in numbers in those 
States. Extracts from reports of some of the most compe- 
tent observers are given below. 
Mr. C. J. Pennock, ornithologist to the Delaware State 
Board of Agriculture, says that birds are probably decreas- 
ing, but not to any great extent, except a few species. He 
mentions the dickcissel, purple martin, ruffed grouse and 
bob-white as species that have been decreasing for many 
years, and the house wren as increasing in his locality (Ken- 
net Square, Pa.). 
Mr. Frank M. Chapman, assistant curator of the depart- 
ment of birds in the American Museum of Natural History, 
writes from his home, Englewood, N. J. : “ Birds remain 
about the same, except bobolinks, which have been exter- 
minated locally; the larger hawks and owls, which decrease 
with the disappearance of the woodland; game birds, includ- 
ing doves and wild fowl; eave or cliff swallows, which have 
