Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-05-16

,r.. rreusss ana His -waasou
slaughter by Negroes.

Macon (Ga.) Telegraph
A great deal has been written IN the
r.1.oyopA during the last three years
concerning tho gradual determination OF
Ne South's splendid songster, the
mockingbird, or, to be more definite,
ths Minus Pofygiottus. The Telegraph
fsrst called attention to the subject, and
+ SEQ no reason to doubt that the
theory then advanced to account Tor
the growing scarcity OF the birds
GAS and is q true one. The reason
eiyen was the unchecked slsugh-
ter of the birds by negro "sportsmen,"
and the destruction or capture OF their
Young from wantonness or desire Tor
gain. This theory has been combatted.
II is stated by some that the English
sparrow is driving out the singers by
others that the destruction of the forests
has something to do with the evil. 1t
Is even suggested that the hurricanes
may be the real cause. None Of these
theories will stand the test. The English
sparrow cannot-in fact, no bird can
drive out the Knockers, who belong to a
game and belligerent family. The
common mockingbird will attack dogs,
cats, hawks, crows, and buzzards when
they invade his range, and have never
known one of them to give up the con-
test. He is not q forest bird, but of
the fields. He prefers an open sitna-
ton and the haunts of men. The
orchard, the hedge, solitary haw-
bush, where he has plenty Of sunlight
and q breadth Of view, suits him best.
And it is in the fields and orchards
that he finds food. OF all nests his is
probably the most carelessly built, and
little trouble is taken to conceal it. lie
seems to feel that his song is the price
of security, and this mistake is fast
playing havoc with him.
Up to emancipation times, or rather
the close of the war, mockingbirds
were plentiful everywhere in Georgia.
During the years that followed, free
dom armed race to whom guns had
been forbidden. The negro became an
enthusiastic hunter, but he was I'M
skilled and could crafty his craze for
destroying only upon birds that were
nearest at hand. Mockiugbirds, car
dinals, joreels, catbirds, and thrushes
went down as easy conquests before
q class that had never been taught
better, and had neither sentiment
nor conscience. The negro hunt
ers of to-day, with possibly a
few exceptions, are not wing shots, and
the fill their bags with birds that can
be killed in the trees. 1t goes without
saying that these are the birds that
should be spared to the fields and to
society. My observation has beea that
few, very few, negroes will pass, gun
in hand, anything that has feathers and
is large enough to cook, and that is
borne out by the fact that the bluejay,
the woodpecker, and the catbird are
disappearing from the fields aud woods
almost as fast as the mockingbird
proper.
The destruction Of the mockingbird
has been more rapid because his nest
has been systematically robbed By par
ties Of both colors for private gain or
qualification. a year or two since we
noted one shipment of these birds from
Savannah which contained six or seven
hundred. Upon the streets Of this and
all other cities they are openly sold
every summer.
The loss Of these birds and others
not named from the fields is very IN
fortunate, if we consider the matter
merely from the standpoint Of economy.
1t is said, and any one who has seen
the hooking bird feeding his young may
readily believe it, that worm or bug
goes to it's nest every five minutes du-
ring the day. This would give more
han one hundred to the day for every
pair during the nest.life Of their young,
three sets Of which are raised every
summer. When it is remembered that
every bug or worm thus cut of may
represent thousands, the value Of the
birds services can be understood.
True, nc takes figs and berries, but he
earns them.
When, however, we look at him from
a sentimental point, the wonder that
anyone can harm a member Of the
mockingbird family increases. No song
bird in the world can equal the sweet
ness Of his notes or sustain a song so
lOngs No bird known to naturalists
can produce the notes Of others and of
owls or even animals with such pre-
cision and in such combination. The
little gray singer that balances himself
upon tree-tops or dances along the
ridges Of our houses seems to have
all the biTd-notes of the land
at his tongues end, and to
delight in weaving them into new forms
of beauty. That he has never been the
poets theme to the extent that the
lark, the nightingale, or even the robin
has, | attribute to his name. 1t is not
fitted for verse, nor is it at all poetical.
Had he borne the name Of Orpheus, as
docs his cousin, of the Greater Antilles,
he would have filled the song-lore Of
the South. Paul Ilayne, William Hamil-
ton Hayne, and few others have used
him, but none have conquered his pie
bian name. Sidney Lanier, who loved
and observed every form Of nature, pays
attention to him, and the description is
so graphic and perfect that it should be
noted:
Superb and sole upon plumed spray
That er the general LEAKAGE boldly grew.
lie summoned the woods 10 song or typlc
drew
The watch OF hungry hawks. tue lone dis
may
Of languid doves whose lovers stray.
or all birds passion plays that sprinkle dew
At morn in brake or bOsky avenue;
Whate'er birds did or dreamed this bird
could say.
Then down he shot, bounced airily along
The sward. twltched grasshopper, made
song
Mid flight. perched, pinked, and to his art
again:
sweet science. this large riddle read me
How may the death Of that dull insect be
The life Of yon trim Shakespeare on the
tree.
Another and tenderer mention does
he make of pet mocking-bird that met