19 
Park writes : “ I see no decrease in twenty years. Woodcock 
seem scarce.” Mr. I. Chester Horton of Canton believes 
that quail, grouse, screech owls, purple martins, house wrens, 
barn swallows, whip-poor-wills and indigo birds are diminish- 
ing, while bluebirds are increasing. Mr. R. M. Baldwin of 
Wellesley Hills writes that in Wellesley there is a marked 
decrease in larger birds, a possible increase in the smaller. 
Mr. F. H. Kennard of Brookline says : “ In Brookline they 
are decreasing; swallows driven out by building up of town.” 
Suffolk County. — Mr. Homer Lane Bigelow of Boston 
says that from 1889 to 1897 there was an annual decrease, 
but since then, with exceptions ( i.e., 1903), there has been 
a gradual increase. Mr. F. H. Allen of Boston expresses 
a disbelief in any general decrease in the number of birds 
in the region he is best acquainted with, although certain 
species are driven out of their accustomed haunts by the 
extension of city influences into the country, the cutting 
down of woods, etc. Mr. C. S. Day of Boston, who is 
also acquainted with conditions in Chathamport, Barnstable 
County, says birds are decreasing. “ I should judge about 
one-half. I have noticed the decrease particularly the last 
fifteen years.” Hawks, owls, the swallow family, game birds, 
the house wren, the swifts and shore birds are the birds most 
particularly mentioned as decreasing. 
Essex County. — Mr. F. C. Dodge of Beverly says that 
in the last three years there has been an increase; previous 
to that, a decrease. He says there are not so many birds in 
the city as formerly, but about the same number in the 
near-by country. (All observers but one from Beverly re- 
port some increase in birds there.) Mr. Reginald C. Rob- 
bins of Boston states that only wilderness birds are decreasing 
in Essex County; suburban birds remain about the same; 
others fast decreasing locally, but holding their own in favor- 
able spots. Mr. J. A. Farley says: “ Speaking from ten 
years’ experience in certain towns in southern Essex County, 
should say, on the whole, birds remain about the same; 
homed owls, sharp-shinned hawks and red-tailed hawks are 
a good deal reduced.” Dr. Charles W. Townsend, from 
twenty-eight years’ experience, mainly in two towns in Essex 
County, concludes that shore birds have decreased consider- 
