The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-07-28


chief causes Of destruction NAV be At.
tnbuted to so.called sportsmen. market
huhtefs, aud the game hog with trained
uoEs, deeoys. nets ana bats OF grain
s,d daeh there are the, hunting contests or
sac hunts, organized for the mere sake
o. killing. The character OF the men who
nn1 pleasure In these side hunts, NAV be
Judged by the fact that they are not above
rnhins natrels full Of herons. woodpeckers,
eHSpplns, doves, crows, Jays, red squirrels
thipmunks and skuuks counting nm ths
points allotted To each.
II the reports are true. and there Is every
lcusoh 10 believe them to be So the boys
Oh America are the chief destrovers ~
vur song birds and other small noncdlble
u,sIus generally. Guns are now so cheap
,,nnaI almost any boy can own one. and
lnan boy with a gun.
men there are the egg collectors. chiefly
.ohpostd Of school boys who annually de.
sso ,,'iA thousands 81 eggs ana young b rus,
'uuuilg thr birds who simply ask the ;rivi.
We OF making their homes with us for
leW months each NCar. building their pretty
nests W our orchards, fields aud gardens
ana Feeding their helpless little ones on the
very insects thst destroy our crops
Now thnt large game birds have become so
SVaIte; the use OF song birds as food is a
new uSnser that threatens them, and IN
1 regard 10 this Mr.. Hornaday SAYS in his
ltpotl: AS our grouse and Wild ducks
grow scarce and disappear. the taste OF the
| 'plcure aud pot hunter descends by swift
STAGES from ;he wild turkey. grouse md
v,al,Nasnacf To the sandplpcr, dove,
me3dow lark aud bobollnk A reed bird on
u sktWer will soon take the place Of quail
on toast. II is too large for one mouthful.
GUY uy no means large enough for two. TO
STE healthy, able-bodied American at
work upon this two-ounce bird, with
ten,inch knife with the idea of satisfying
nv pangs or hunger, IS the height of ali
surultl In connection with this agency,
i1r me destruction Of ear lnsectiVorous
song plds, call your Particular attention
10 the following statements: In 1897 2G0O
ROBINS were received IN one month 10y q
qsaies In the Washington market Prof
ii. Nehrling says that this is one OF the
inain causes 4 the fearful decrease Of our
small migratory birds In the southern
states. lie states that millions Of all kinds
ot birds nave been killed principally by
negroes and Italians and offered for sale
IN the French market at New Orleans. and
hat there Is scarcely hotel in New Or
leans whore small birds do not form an
item On the bill Of fare
Among the numerous piles Of dead birds
sold during the fall migratlons are 20 be
found the robins. thrnshes. chewnks, flick
crs. hincbcs, catblrds Eingblrds tanagers,
sandpipcrs. little herons and even cardinals
and Swallows.
II time would permit l could mention
other causes Of bird destruction. and | can
not leave this part Of my subject without
saying that regret To say that the farmer
himself is included. for he has to some
! extent been guilty of killing his feathered
| lTehaS or mas permitted MS boys 10 10 SO.
| Here I would like 10 state that while the
| farmer hlames the city gunners for killing
! Of their game. and In many cases Justly
| So, that the farmers son John with his
new shotgun Is probably more to blame
| after all am acquainted with n number
| of persons In Texas, calling themselves
| gentlemen snortsmcn," whom | hold In
! considerable contempt and It Is also my
! privilege to know some others who are
| really sportsmeu. and | say with pleasure
| that In my opinion, the true sportsman /.
one of the best friends Of the birds we
! have.