THE DESTROYING MOTOR

Shannon News, 29 December 1926, Page 3

THE DESTROYING MOTOR

. The modern, is a destroyer of nature in tke view of an i American naturalist. He bases his allegations on the fact that flying birds are often struck by speeding cars, while small animals frequently get under the wheels. The American statistics give some corroboration to the plaint, but if the popular jibes are to 1 be believed the American statistics are to .be taken with a grain of salt. However, the State entomologist of Illinois estimates that 100,000 birds are killed annually on the roads of his province. At the same time he supplies “official” figures to show that - 11,000 chickens were - slaughtered last year. As this was not sufficiently appalling he adds 12,500 rabbits, 20,000 gophers, 7350 snakes, 2750 cats, 2000 toads; 1300 rats* and 650 pole eats. ’ While grieving over this earnage one cannot help sympathising with the Illinois official in his task of recording these deaths. Motorists cannot be persuaded to report the slaughter of a cat at the nearest police station, and no doubt occasional fatalities are concealed by the removal of the body. The traffic police of the State are not empowered to prevent/ this pody snatching, so that the entomologist can but guess at the* number of stark animals which are spirited away by guilty drivers.

One marvels at the honesty of motorists in leaving 11;000 chickens on the road every year. The fact that evidence of these 11,000 deaths remain for the recording pen is proof that the reckless driver is too .sensitive to add larceny to his covert acts. . In. fact it can be stated with some assurance that not only are all motorists not thieves, but also few thieves are motorists. The business-like State of Illinois alone houses 11,000 isouls who are above chicken stealing. The pathos in the death of 11,000 chickens and 2750 domestic felines vanishes when the destruction of the rabbits and snakes is considered. Then there are 20,000 gophers. This is a borrowing animal as objectionable as its name. They deserve no obsequies. As regards the 650 pole cats, one can wellbelieve that the statictician has not missed one. Their tracing would present few difficulties.