Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1899-06-07
Bird Protection.

The following clipping from the Editori-
al Columns Of the New York Sun OF Sat
urday, May q, shows the state of feeling
that is being aroused in certain sections Of
the country in behalf Of the birds:
President W. c. A. Hammel of the Au-
dubon Society of Baltimore has compiled
some statistics upon the loss OF bird life il
this country that are rather startling. In
the last fifteen years the percentage OF de-
crease in Maine has been So; in New
Hampshire, 80; Massachusetts, q; Yer
mout, 80; Rhode Island, 60; Connecticut,
rs; New York, 4S; New Jersey, 81
Pennsylvania, 81 Ohio, 38; Indiana, 60;
Illinois, 50; Michigan, %; Wisconsin, 40;
Iowa, 81; Missouri, Sc; Nebraska, 10;
North Dakota, So; District Of Columbia,
So; South Carolina, 80; Georgia, IS;
Florida, II; Mississippi, 81; Louisiana,
55; Texas, 81 Arkansas, so; Montana,
rs; Idaho, 40; Colorado, %; and Indi-
an Territory, rs, making general average
of 46 per cent. The figures were obtained
from Government reports and the records
of Audubon societies, and, while bird
census is impossible, trained observers can
dt lCdoU COmp6lO lICoCuU WILL lOIuCI COu-
ditions and work out fairly reliable per-
centages. One does not need to be an
ornithologist to have noted that song birds
and birds Of bright plumage are becoming
rarer every year. President Hammel who,
by the way, is at the head of the Maryland
Normal School, reports that one taxiber.
mist in New York handles 10000 bird
skins every year; that in four months 20,
900 birds were killed on Long Island for
their feathers, and that a firm in this city
recently made contract to deliver 40,
900 bird skins in Paris. eff the enormous
destruction of birds could once be placed
in its true light before the men and women
and young people throughout the State
says Mr.. Hammel, 81 am sure they would
cooperate most heartily with u.s." The
Baltimore Audubon Society purposes to or
ganize chapters among children of the
public and private schools and to put in
their hands collections Of bird stories in
book form. This is an excellent plan, on
the theory that inter est and sympathy in
stilled in children's minds will make them
lifelong friends and protectors of the birds,
and that it is education, and not legisla-
ton, that will finally achieve the object Of
the Audubon societies.
I In the matter of education, very encour-
aging progress has been made in the North
ern States, although it cannot yet be said
that Audubon societies are numerous.
There should be chapter in every town
and village. But it is in the South where
enlightenment is needed most. Bird
slaughter goes on at terrible rate, and
there is no restraining public opinion in
that part OF the country. The robin, which
people in the North make pet of, is killed
by the thousands, and the blue-jay and 9th
er brightly feathered birds are now seen
infrequently. With few exceptions our
familiar birds come from the South, where
they winter, and the Audubon societies
should do some hustling missionary work
in Dixie if they desire to see an increase of
the feathered species in the North. They
should also demand local legislation, such
as exists in the New Jersey boroughs, to
prohibit the killing and keeping Of sorg
birds under heavy fines. General legi.la-
ton on the subject is too often futile.
The A. o. HI. recently elected the fol-
lowing officers: President. J.J. O'Con-
nor vice president, w. H. Kiniry; rec
ording secretary, d. H. Cray; financial
secretary, p. Ii. Lswlor; treasurer, P. E.
Griffin. The order now numbers nearly
200 members and is in every way prosper
Gus. The state officers will make an off,