The daily morning journal and courier., 1900-03-31
SAVE THE SEA BIRDS.
Ornithologists' Union Appeals to Camp
 Lovers.

OInlCHOlOSlSlS OHlOH AppStlo u Aeihip Lovers.
 The following appeal has been ad-
 dressed to newspapers throughout the east by the American OrnithologlStS union:
 This country is on the verge of losing forever one of the main features of It's
 seacoast charms-the seabirds them selves. In fact, the terms, the most ex- quisite of the gull family, have been so
 nearly wiped out by agents of the mll-
 liners that this years onslaught, al- ready fully organized will glean almost the last pair from the few small breed- ing colonies which remain, wherever these are unprotected. And the larger gulls, which are not only very beauti- full, but absolutely essential as harbor scavengers, are also being decimated for
 the same purpose.
 All these species, with their exquisite beauty, their wild voices and their most romantic lives, peopling realm which, without them would be oppressive Tn l it's dreary grandeur, will reach thelr breeding places in a few weeks and the terms, especially, are liable to be slaugh- | tered the moment they get there; there fore the promptest action is necessary, if we are to save even the few pairs of
 the latter which could restock our dew astated coast when the evil eye of fash ion shall have turned to other victims, Simple economic considerations make | it matter of course that the gulls must be saved An immense horde of them, which naturalists think number any
 where from a hundred thousand to million, gorge twice day in New York bay upon garbage. As the hour of the dump" approaches their multitude i'll the whole air to an immense height, over an area of several miles, then gradually settle on the sea in vast white sheets The whistle of the police boat,
 the signal to dump seems to watt them simultaneously into the air to gather, like dense snow clouds, over the floating masses just emptied from the many scows.
 Imagine from what an amount of pu-
 trid matter these birds, as big as hens,
 save the adjacent beaches, not to speak
 of their perpetual gleaning in the actual
 harbors! And this is specimen of what occurs at every port. And shall
 this incalculable sanitary benefit, and all this beauty terminate forever and l for no worthy purpose?
 l If money enough can be raised the | committee of the American Ornithoio-
 gists' union will guard every breeding | place where there is a lack to back them, as MT. Mackay and MT. Butcher
 have done at Vineyard Sound Islands
 and Great Gull Island. The utmost cau- tion will be used in choosing wardens, and the committee will be glad to re- ceive names of men especially suited for the post. Lighthouse keepers and life saving station captains will be employ ed wherever feasible.
 very encouraging sum is already in the hands of the committed The places to be protected are certain islands on the coast of Maine, Long Island, New Jersey, Maryland and perhaps Virginia and Florida. In Maine alone there is need for all the money we can possibly get, since there single wardens are afraid to face the rough plumers, and some more elaborate organization is the only hope.
 The American Ornithologists' union, therefore, appeals to every bird lover for money to be used in hiring wardens to protect the birds while nesting. Con- tributions should be sent to William Butcher, treasurer of the union, at 525 Manhattan avenue. New York city, who will furnish all desired information on the subject