Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1902-09-18

Italian markets, are packed by fifties,
living, in fiat boxes, closed on one side
with wire and on top with canvas, and
of these often a dozen or more are
standing on top of the other. AS they
are needed the inmates are taken out
and knocked ON the head on table,
while at the same moment the breast
is pressed in, and then the little Great
ures, as yet but half dead and with
quivering wings, are ruthlessly
plucked. All this, even the plucking,
is accomplished with such incredible
rapidity, that hardly minute elapses
before one quail is ready for cooking
and another is begun on.
But, as | said before, | visited not
only the town markets, but also the
contrivances for sharing in the hills
above the lakes, known to me during
my former visit. There. too, | found
everything as before. The smaller
establishments still consist usually of
roecolo, and near this in the larger
ones pressanella, several passata
tthese three expressions denote the
most common methods of sharing by
nets), and often, little to one side,
decoy. Near by destruction awaits
the birds at every turn in the shape
of +raps, lime, cages, nets, ETC., and
these instruments of death have been
added to and improved since my last
visit l have nothing new to report
concerning the decoy birds and their
use. That large number of birds
are still entrapped in this way was
betrayed, in spite of unfriendly
autumn weather, by the loud singing
in the neighborhood. Here also met
with the same complaints, there are
no more birds, every year there are
fewer, and in spite of the fact that
they cost twice as much as formerly
the business does not pay
Now, | believe, l have collected
enough facts to prove once more that
the European bird world is steadily
disappearing. Our migrating birds
with some few exceptions of black
birds, finches and starlings-wander
today exactly as they did in former
years, and their routes remain the
same; what else, then, can be the
reason for their steady decrease in
Italy except that their number is
growing smaller?
However, l am very far from at
tributing the disappearance of our
birds solely to their destruction in the
pearance is in greater degree the
consequence of constantly improving
methods in farming and forestry, by
which the birds are robbed of the
necessary conditions of their exist
ence, and in particular of their op-
portunities for nesting and breeding.
But this destruction in Italy may be
considered a very important second
factor. for through it the already
rapidly disappearing migratory birds
are now being entirely exterminated.
For that reason the Italian bird trade
is more destructive now than former
ly, because the birds, undisturbed in
their nesting and breeding, were then
able to resist the one attack from the
side of man. Now, however, when an
enemy appears in the guise of science
itself, they are attacked by a double
war of determination, to which they
must soon succumb, unless some
power intervenes to save them.
The conclusion we reach is this,
that for the preservation and propa-
cation of our birds we must contend
with both enemies; therefore, let us
not only provide the birds with the
necessary conditions of their exist
ence, above all for nesting and breed
ing (the hanging of our nesting
cages. construction of thickets for
their protection, food for winter, de-
struction of bird enemies), but also
take care that Italy. too, adopts the
strict bird laws already accepted, and,
let us hope, enforced by most of the
European countries.
| have endeavored to ascertain
throughout Italy what the people
themselves think of the bird trade
and how its prohibition would be
taken. and | can only say that for the
greater part | have met only with
very reasonable opinions The people
see the harm they are doing both to
themselves and others by DESTROYING
the birds. and many complained of
the great increase of insect plaques: I
even found some realization of the
ethical side of the question. But
everywhere | met with the same ex-
cuse. and must admit a justffiable
one. that the same thing was being
done in othe- countries and partic-
ularly with us. in eternally preaching
moral Germany. where the thrush
trade iieldfaresl is still allowed.
| unfortunately could not conceal
my identity as the herald of this sad
truth. for my article on Universal
Bird Protection. It's Origin and Fur
therance," is also translated into
Italian. and has had quite a large cir
cuiation there. The passage to which
sllude runs as follows: But have
we any right to forbid the bird trade?
Can We even reproach the Italian with
the fact that he hunts our birds as
long as We OurSplva- ~ A..