The Oskaloosa herald., 1915-08-05

apace, unless the IaWS are ShAOA SSS
which are framed to conserve the
bird life OF this country and the man
and the boy with the gun are not re-
strained The hunter is still hero IN
many OF our communities, who muir
ders a strange bird. In foreign coun-
tries the stoTk makes his nest on
roofs, in church towers, and other
birds are made welcome and given
home A pair of storks that desired
to make their home in an Iowa vii
lage would stand about as much
chance as a SNOWFALL in the regions
which General Sherman preferred TO
Texas There are many friends OF the
birds in Oskaloosa who will be inter
ested in the following that has been
sent out from Washington under re-
cent date:
A statement from the United Stat
ss biological survey, contradicting the
rumor that il was willing TO pay $lO,-
900 for nest AMI eggs of the AmeTi-
can passenger pigeon has recently at
tracted attention again to the myster-
ious disappearance of these birds,
which once existed in immense hocks
throu ghout the eastern United States.
The determination of the passen-
ger pigeon, like that of the buffalo, is
rather a classic; but few people are
aware that quite a number OF inter
esting and valuable American birds
have disappeared forever. The seem
ingly inexhaustible abundance OF
American wild life in the early days
led to a careless destruction which
has reduced countless fiocks OF some
Gf1l tElh mn al
specimens.
The skin OF a Labrador duck, once
a favorite of New England sportsmen,
is now worth from a thousand to
twelve hundred dollars, AMI a living
specimau has not been seen for nearly
forty years. The last Eskimo curlew
on record was killed in South Amer
lea about a year ago. The Carolina
parakeet, the only North American
species OF parrot, which once ranged
III great fiocks tIum Florida to the
Great --akes, was represented short
time ago by one very aged Specimen
iIi captivity. An offer of $1,000 by pri-
Vate individuals, mentioned in the re-
cent government statement, failed TO
bring forth single specimen OF the
passenger pigeons nest.
The determination OF this bird has
excited especial interest because OF
the mystery which surrounds it. AS
the birds were shot by thousands
with small cannon, dubbed to death
on their roosts, and otherwise ruth
lessly slaughtered, II is no wonder
that their numbers we're reduced;
but that a bird once so abundant
should have completely disappeared
is considered almost unaccountabie.
Yet generous offers for specimens OF |
this bird or its nest, which have been
standing for the last ten years, have
brought countless specimens OF dow |
es and other pigeon.
There are, however, two species OF |
wild pigeon remaining in the United |
States, although the fact is not gen !
orally known in the east. One OF |
these is the band tailed pigeon of the |
southwest large bird, and flies with |
a Tapping noise exactly like a tame |
pigeon. 1t is comparatively scarce and |
very shy In Florida the white crown
ed pigeon is seen occasionally, al !
though it is more common in the keys |
than on the mainland
The determination OF the Carolina |
paTrakeet is not SO difficult to under |
stand. Although this bird once had an |
extensive range, it was never any |
thing like so abundant as the pigeon |
1t was a beautiful creature, slightly |
smaller than a dove, bright green in |
color with red markings, and was sure |
TO attract the eye OF every gunner.
Its plumage was valuable for mil
hnr he
parrakeet had an extremely confiding !
and affectionate disposition. Like |
many other species OF parrots, ii mat !
ed for life. and the pairs were jevot-
ed. When a gun shot into a flock, Kill |
ling and wounding a number OF birds, !
the others would always come back |
seeking their lost mates, so that the |
whole flock was often destroyed
The Eskimo curlew and the Labra-
dor duck were destroyed for the same |
reason. Each, of them had a limited |
range, nesting in Labrador and flying !
south in winter along the Atlantic !
coast as far as New York Both OF |
them were fayorite game birds and /
their determination was necessarily /
rapid
In addition to these birds. which |
have disappeared forever from Amer |
lea, there are a number which are on |
the verge OF extinction and will soon |
be sought by collectors at high prices !
One. cannot help rejecting that il |
would be far better IL some Of the |
time and thought spent in obtaining !
specimens of extinct birds were utiliz !
ed in saving the species while some !
OF, them are still alive.
The trumpeter crane, or whooping !
crane, OF the Mississippi valley, once |
existed in great fiocks. II is a tall |
stately bird, snow white in color, ami |
with a trumpeting call that can be |
heard at great distance. Not many |
years ago, whooping cranes were |
fayorite game bird up and down the |
Mississippi valley, but now one is sell |
dom seen. The great white swan |
which once ranged all over the north |
western Uaited States and into Can
ada is also practically extinct as the |
result OF overshooting.
Probably few people who live in the |
Atlantic states are aware that spec
ies OF prairie chicken once ranged all
over the open country of Maryland,
Pennsylvania. New York and adjac-
ent states. The eastern prairie chick
en- was known as the health hen"
and Wac af ono TINA fhnuQhf IN he