The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-05-03

Editor of Recreation Talks Entertain
inGly to Students.

G.. o. Shields, editor of Recreation. spoke
this afternoon on Bird Lovers and Bid
pestroyers.' The High School was dis
missed to give the pupils an opportunity to
listen to him. His address, in part. follows:
1.-The destruction of bird life in the United
States during the past fifteen years mas
been such as to alarm every lover OF ma
ture. Three years ago w. I. Hornaday, III
rector of the New York Geological Society,
sent out a circular containing a series or
questions aiming TO ascertain the IactS as
to the decrease of birds in the whole coun-
try. This circular was sent to well-knoWn
naturaliSts and scientists IN all or the
States and Territories and the responses
were prompt, comprehensive and COM
plete. These were carefully tabulated, ana
the results show that the average de-
crease in bird life throughout thirty states
was 40 per cent. In some localities the de-
structiOn had, of course, been much great
er than in others, ana the rate or decrease
varies from 10 per cent, in a few States. to
as high as 10 per cent. in others. Inc causes
enumerated by the observers Were: First,
the market hunter. whose aim Is TO supply
birdskins and plumage Tor millinery pur,
poses; second, sportsmen and so-cailed
sportsmen: third. the small boy with his
cheap gun: fourth. another class of small
boys who rob nests for the purpose of MAX
ing collections of eggs and nests.
For a hundred years past 1t has been
the custom of all men and boys VINO go
into the woods and fields with guns to Kill
all kinds of birds In mere w~antonness. or
under the pretext that the hunters needed
the practice in order TO improve their skill
in shooting. The fashion of wearing birds
on bonnets is comparatively modern. our
Mothers and grandmothers rarely thought
of such a thing. They were content TO deco
rate their headgear with ostrich plurnes, or
with flowers. lace. ribbons etc. 1t remained
for the women of the last decade OF the
nineteenth century TO discover that song
birds and so-called plumage birds could be
utilized for this purpose.
WHEN THE WOODS WE'RE ALIVE
There is probably not a person within
the sound of my voice who cannot remem-
Der the days when the woods. the fields, the
orchards and the shade trees about their
homes, whether in town or country, were
adam with the colors and musical with
the songs of native birds. What is the con-
dition to-day? In many localities where
bird life was abundant ten or twenty years
ago. you may walk or drive all day. and
scarcely see a dozen birds of any kind.
Twenty-Five years ago l spent several
weeks along the west coast of Florida.
There were myriads OF birds everywhere.
Some of these were such as spent their
summers here in the North. but a great
majority of them We're white egrets and
iblses. roseate s%poonbills. blue herons and
other tropical or semi-tropical birds. Sew
Cral species of these bear what are IA
miliarly known as the fatal plumeS. that
- ~ ARt'6f ~
which depend the fine, "-aVy hbers that are
so eagerly sought as or 'ments for wom-
ems hats.
Il am receiving reports from all portions
of Florida, nearly every day, TO the effect
that scarcely one OF these birds can be
found anywhere. Ever since / visited that
country, 1 have heard every year of men
who have hunted the forests and the ever
glades industriously. all through each win
ter, collecting and shipping these plumes
To the manufacturing milliners I'm the East.
RananflN tho nFinn nf the InfnI nnImaC'
has reached $15 an ounce. Think how
strongly such an offer must appeal To the
cupidity of a market hunter. There are
thousands OF lazy. worthless hunters
throughout the country who would rather
shoot game birds or plumage birds at a
profit of 80 cents a day. than work on a
farm or chop wood, or work In a lumber
camp or a sawmill. or at any other good.
honest occupation, at 81 a day and board.
These men like what they term the fun
OF killing things. Then IL is much easier TO
lie around In the woods, or on a marsh with
a gun, or even to tramp all day and get an
occasional shot than IL Is TO follow the
plow. or hoe corn, or swing an AK, OR pull
a crOsscut saw.
zone Of these plume hunters recently
said TO a newspaper reported: The first
two years / hunted In lower California,
where there were thousands OF egrets. On
some days l used to get as many as twenty
egrets or herons. but hey are now rapidly
growing scarce. Generally | get three or
four successful shots at the frightened birds
NNAEA e. 1AL ~ 49,
So easily frightened that they are power
less with fright for the moment and make
good targets Of themselves. Sometimes we
get as many as fifteen birds In one after
loon. Years ago. when egrets and herons
were plentiful. L nave killed nine birds IN
as many shots. before they got out OF
reach And al this bird butchery was
carried on in order that vain women might
beautify themselves.
"A so-called factory, In which bird skins
were repared for women's dye was
burned at Wautaeh. J.. L., a year ago ana
the owner reported the loss OF lo.uW skins
OF sea gulis. 10000 wings OF other plrus,
and 10000 heads OF birds. The money value
of these was placed at $500. IN owner
further stated that one skin hunter In his
employ had killed al 900 birds In a sinSle
season. II was a lucky fire that burned
that man out. and l wish a similar tate
might befall every man who engages IN
this Infamous traffic.
REVOLUTION OF SENTIMENT.
But happily a great revolution has set
I'm. \ few years ago a handful OF noble
men and women raised their voices against
this inhuman slaughter. They realized that
it was a crime TO destroy these beautiful
creatures. which God had placed here TO
b~eautify the landscape. and to make mu-
steal the byways and highways. either for
purposes OF sport. or for decorating wom-
ems wearing apparel These men and
women proclaimed their sentiment In pubic