THE LIBERTY STATUE AND THE BIRDS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1717, 29 March 1888, Page 4

THE LIBERTY STATUE AND THE BIRDS.

The torch-bearing Goddess of Bedloe’s Island, New York harbor, doea not trim her hat with humming bird?, nor adorn her robes with the bright plumage of feathered creatures. She is, nevertheless, an innocent cause of death to a great many birds, of all sizes and colors, and representing numerous species without discrimination. The fatal instrument of decoy and distraction is the vast cluster of electric lights which she holds in her right hand 300 ft above the waters of ihe sea, and whose powerful rays are visible to the human eye at a distance of forty miles. This is the season of migration; and the number of winged wanderers of the air who dash themselves against the deceptive beacon, and fall back stunned or dead, is almost incredible. One morning, recently, after the first cold wave bad set the birds flying southward, the officers on the island picked up no less than 1875 downy little dead bodies. Many of them were beautiful creatures, and the sight was pitiful. There were among them specimens of more than one hundred distinct species. The largest bird was a Canadian woodpecker, measuring thirteen inches from wing to wing. Tee smallest was an exquisite little humming bird, one inch long. An examination proved that the heat of the light had blinded the unfortunate creatures. In some cases their Drains were actually roasted. Comparatively few of ihem were dashed to death, but nearly all were fatally burned and blinded. There will, no doubt, be more or less victims all througn the season. Coloniel A. G. lassm, the commander of the military post, does not dispose of the bodies to the miliners, as he might. He favors science in preference to fashion, and sends the specimens to the museums. As to the occasional gamebirds, their dressing is no doubt confided to that practical kitchen taxidermist, the mess cook.