Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-07-28

founded a colony on the island about the
emu OF the seventeenth century, and whose
account OF the solitaire is the only record
OF It's existence. Although there is nothing
on record to show how this bird became
extinct II is quite probable that the Ids
tory or the dodo furnishes the clue to the
secret.
The Great Ark.
Another bird that has recently become
extinct and which. by the way, was an IN
habitant Of this country. is Ire great aux.
or as IT was originally and generally called.
the penguin. This bird was unable 20 nv.
Its wings being adapted only for swimming.
an art however, in which Il was SO pro-
hcient that IL could move through the water
with wonderful rapidly and take LONGER
Journeys than many OF It's fellow birds mat
enjoyed the ability of hying. These strange
aquanc fowls were very partial TO cold
weather, and consequently never troubled
themselves 10 come much farther south than
the shores OF Iceland. Newfoundland snd
other arctic islands where they abounded
IN great numbers. They were first discov-
cred IN America about the middle of the
sixteenth century. and when IL was found
that their flesh and eggs were exceedingly
palatsole the work OF extinction began.
french fishermen Toasted on them TO a lsrEe
extent passing ships would stop at tipelr
iaNorite abodes ana lay in a store OF them.
%hiie the early settlers sailed and barfeied
tnein Tor winter use. As they abounded In
likely that these modes of destruction would
mol nave been sufficient TO have exter1ninnt--
60 them by this time. but when IL occurred
70 some one that the feathers OF the great.
aux would be both useful and valuable tfScfr
determination began in good earnest andi
many people made profitable BUSINESS OF
hinhg penguins. Funk Island was one Of
tneir chief abiding places, and n became
the custom for the crews 10 summer 49,.
ahu spend Their vacation in destroying the~s
Di . LOT thelr feathers. These men were
not content with killing the birds sinxay
OF IN pairs. but resorted to all sorts az
means for their wholesale Destruction. 20
mar within comparatively short time,
miIhons OF these birds were put out OF ~
Etence, and by the year Is.a not a Uxs,,,
specimen was to be found anvwbere. na,ss
ing but the scattered remains of what wa.
once great race OF birds and even tf,.-.,
n rfnans nave become so rare that at the
one skeleton having recently sold for ssro
200. e~oiis ortns
In Hawaii
Stili another bird that has gone ont Of ~
is'ence within modern times is the MANN.
or the facilc sicklebill. which was confined
exclusively 10 The islands of Hawaii The
determination of this little bird was due 70,
the vanity of the Hawaiian nobility rho
considered IL as part of their d,,,n,,, 20
wear long robes made of bright feathers
Inc deep yellow feathers of The faauo u-are
much priced. and as only the brightest ana.
largest were chosen, IL REQUIRED an i'm
mense number Of birds to cornDIete one
robe lunches of these feathers were ~
ceiNed by the kings as taxes from the poor
er people. but as the silppiy from I'M,
source was not sufficient to satisfy their
royal avar1ce they employed - regular
corps of bird catchers, who made things 30
hNely Tor the poor maino that IL peacefully
fetaiiated by becoming extinct
The Sea Cow.
An aquatic animal confined alone "a
America, was the sea cow or the rytina.
somewhat resembling the dueong. ana
abouncing only in the icy waters of the
arctic regions. This animal measured from
twenty-four to thirty feet in length and
weighed in the neighborhood Of four tons.
Its skin was thick and wrinkled like the
bark of a tree. and was so tough in places
that II required a sharp AK to penetrate IL
Wien il WAS discovered by Behring in
lIil. on the occasion of his shipwreck while
returning from a voyage Of discovery to
Alaska the sea COW was already In process
of natural determination. BY 19Gs not a
single specimen was in existence, the few
remaining herds having been quickly de-
stroyed by the fur hunters. who used the
sea cow as a source of food during their
hunting expeditions. With nature and man
combined against this helpless animal its
hnal extinction was accomplished in short
order.
These are but few OF the creatures that
have become extinct within the history OF
recent times, and their unhappy fate only
too clearly presages the destiny that IL
rapidly overtaking many of the birds and
animals of the present day.
CLIFFORD HowARn.