Page 129 - Our Vanishing Wild Life

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BIRD SLAUGHTER IN THE SOUTH 107
robins, I quote the follow- ing story from Dr. P. P. Claxton, of the University of Tennessee, as related in Audubon Educational Leaflet No. 46, by Mr. T. Gilbert Pearson:
"The roost to which I refer," says Professor Clax- ton, "was situated in what is locally known as a 'cedar glade,' near Forestville, Bedford Co., Tennessee. This is a great cedar coun- try, and robins used to come in immense numbers
during the winter months, to feed on the berries.
"The spot which the roost occupied was not un- like numerous others that might have been selected. The trees grew to a height of from five to thirty feet, and for a mi'e square were literally
THE ROBIN OF THE NORTH
Our best-beloved Song Bird, now being legally shot as "gam: theSouth. IntheNorththereisnowonlyonerobinfor
every ten formerly there.
loaded at night with robins. favorite sport. A man would climb a cedar tree with a torch, while his com- panions with poles and clubs would disturb the sleeping birds on the ad- jacent trees. Blinded by the light, the suddenly awakened birds flew to the torch-bearer; who, as he seized each bird would quickly pull off its head, and drop it into a sack sus- pended from his shoulders.
"The capture of three of four hundred birds was an ordinary night's work. Men and boys would come in wagons from all the ad- joining counties and camp near the roost for the pur- pose of killing robins. Many times, 100 or more
Hunting them while they roosted was a
THE MOCKIXC.-niRD OF THE SOUTH
hunters with torches and This sweet singer of the South is NOT being shot in the North for food ! No northern lawmaker ever will permit such
clubs would be at work in
barbarity.