THE NATIVE PIGEON.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 502, 8 May 1909, Page 10

THE NATIVE PIGEON.

. " Sit, —I torito to you hoping thereby to get peoplo to interest thtosolvoa-liijpfodur-; •wring ■ moro • protection, for our beautiful and • ..-:■■• trustful;; bub fast disappearing,- pigeon/: It is:itbiiird to 'claim;; that thero is ! any ; ' . iport .m.shooting them; in.fact, l.behoVo it . .would; reqUiro , moro skill ! to snoot tho.or- ; . dinary barnyard ; fowl' than -.to shoot .a lift*: ' V tivo pigeon as it .sits sunhing. itself', oa some; •., os)jtised .branihji.or soratables .amobg,. : .'thc> • ioliage.to; obtain its; meal of" berries -Or site*, j Euleht'stwigs.;and "swing-leaves;.:vJKv? jy': Should tht> tnijarity 6b]<sct to its total <moto 'protection",than .at; present- by i ..extend-. ;.• ing'. tfio ckiso : ;sea&on; : and .'prohibiting' its :. destruction in .forest 'and scenic reserves, last -toiiitbr, I am ■ infemiid,,pigeon-shooting .-was a •profdssion i-herOj-.-and -tho, birds-were- '•' shot.'in"thousands to. send away to tho' - towns. If • trout nhs protected by prohibiting their .aa'd, and if a feo jias to bo paid, J..forr the :.privilego':ofVfishirig for','theni) .surely, ii.i-k'i.thb guilelossVyigMtt.;shbul£L:be^iaffoirdod equal; vSt'gpwtedtiollK;'-.-jp;; > : y^;?j.rv . The ' absurdity.;of - the business is., hi vino .!ij-thS;feoii.4oii'to start:on}; | .In - this district, forinstincejtho .1 borties aro not ripe,: and' .will not bo for. an- .'■' - otherihionthj'and' tnn pigeons, are now. feedin* on yotihg leaves (mostly' : tlios© of'{- the chmber, patsoflaii), . with • the consequence . : that. the,y iiro::as .poor as crows. • •' •■: 1 ( iTho pigeon must rapidly diminish as settlomont advanSos; but. if .wo ■ do.' hot .wish to; - .lose i qliogether this beautiful bird, \ve must ' ' determino^'that'.thosereserves; which aro ; supposed .to givo; protection .to our plants, •. should at tho -Salne tune afford it a sanctuarj.*—l am, etc., COLTJMBA. Ohalmnci Mav 3.