Here is a case by way of illustration, copied very recently from the
Atlanta Journal: 

Editor Journal:—­I located a robin roost up the Trinity River, six miles from Dallas, and prevailed on six Dallas sportsmen to go with me on a torch-light bird hunt.  This style of hunting was, of course, new to the Texans, but they finally consented to go, and I had the pleasure of showing them how it was done.

Equipped with torch lights and shot guns, we proceeded.  After reaching the hunting grounds the sport began in reality, and continued for two hours and ten minutes, with a total slaughter of 10,157 birds, an average of 1,451 birds killed by each man.

But the Texans give me credit for killing at least 2,000 of the entire number.  I was called ‘the king of bird hunters’ by the sportsmen of Dallas, Texas, and have been invited to command-in-chief the next party of hunters which go from Dallas to the Indian Territory in search of large game.—­F.L.  CROW, Dallas, Texas, former Atlantan.

Dallas, Texas, papers and Oklahoma papers, please copy!

As a further illustration of the spirit manifested in the South toward robins, I quote the following 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 Claxton, “was situated in what is locally known as a ‘cedar glade,’ near Porestville, Bedford Co., Tennessee.  This is a great cedar country, and robins used to come in immense numbers during the winter months, to feed on the berries.

[Illustration:  THE ROBIN OF THE NORTH Our best-beloved Song Bird, now being legally shot as “game” in the South.  In the North there is now only one robin for every ten formerly there.]

“The spot which the roost occupied was not unlike numerous others that might have been selected.  The trees grew to a height of from five to thirty feet, and for a mile square were literally loaded at night with robins.  Hunting them while they roosted was a favorite sport.  A man would climb a cedar tree with a torch, while his companions with poles and clubs would disturb the sleeping birds on the adjacent 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 suspended from his shoulders.

[Illustration:  THE MOCKING-BIRD OF THE SOUTH This sweet singer of the South is NOT being shot in the North for food!  No northern lawmaker ever will permit such barbarity.]

“The capture of three of four hundred birds was an ordinary night’s work.  Men and boys would come in wagons from all the adjoining counties and camp near the roost for the purpose of killing robins.  Many times, 100 or more hunters with torches and clubs would be at work in a single night. For three years this tremendous slaughter continued in winter,—­and then the survivors deserted the roost.”