14 
and many of the shore birds have greatly decreased, as have 
likewise most of the smaller forest birds. The few that 
haunt cultivated grounds have doubtless nearly maintained 
their former abundance.” 
In 1898, Director William T. Hornaday, of the Hew York 
Zoological Park, made an inquiry into the decrease of birds 
and mammals in the United States. He estimated, from 
reports received by him from naturalists in many parts of 
the country, that biids had decreased on the average 46 per 
cent in thirty States and Territories within the fifteen years 
then just past, while their reduction in Massachusetts was 
estimated at 27 per cent. This report has been widely 
quoted, and very generally credited by the public. 
The Difficulty of acquiring Accurate Information. 
It is difficult to get accurate information as to the increase 
or decrease of bird life in a region so large as the State of 
Map of Massachusetts marked to show the localities from which reports have 
been received. 
Massachusetts. Ho individual unaided can safely form a 
conclusion one way or the other regarding more than such 
limited territory as he has been familiar with for a series 
of years. Such a conclusion, when formed, is merely an 
opinion, and the personal equation inevitably comes in to 
bias it. Some people are naturally optimistic, and their 
