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From The Passenger Pigeon in Pennsylvania
By John C. French
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The Passenger Pigeon of America Is Dedicated to The Memory of My Father Nehemiah French, 1818-1906 An Apostle of Bird Protection And to Colonel Henry W. Shoemaker Advocate of Conservation of Bird and Animal Life In Pennsylvania Who Prompted Me to Write It John C. French Roulette, Pennsylvania, July 15, 1918 |
INTRODUCTORY PREFACE
Through the kindness of its sponsor, my good friend, Col. Henry
W. Shoemaker, I have had the privilege of reading the proof sheets of Mr.
French’s Passenger Pigeon Monograph.
Of later time a great deal has been written upon this fascinating
subject. Of necessity most of it has either related to the period
of the annihilation of this remarkable bird, or to a compilation of early
literature of its life history, much of which was derived from most unreliable
sources.
It is safe to say that no other single publication of modern
times contains as much intimate and first-hand personal observation as
this regarding the habits of the Passenger Pigeon throughout the year,
in a well defined and typical position of its breeding range. Very
few statements of fact are to be questioned and many of the author’s generalizations
are truly inspiring and increase our appreciation of this great tragedy
in Aviation history. Here, too, we find recorded, probably for the
first time in literature, an authentic narration of the part this bird
played in the mythology and folk-lore of the Algonquin Indians.
It is to be hoped, when the inevitable demand for a second edition
of this brochure shall make its reprinting necessary, that Mr. French will
rearrange his chapters to conform to their historic and chronological sequence.
This will not only disarm the inevitable criticisms of the technical perceiver,
but present the valuable and original contribution which he has made to
the Natural History of Pennsylvania in a form more useful as well as readable
to both layman and naturalist.
Not only are we greatly indebted to Mr. French for this labor
of love in rescuing facts from oblivion, but our gratitude should also
include Colonel Shoemaker, the publisher, whose tongue, pen and fortune
have so long been devoted to research in the Natural History, Antiquities
and Folk Lore of his well beloved State.
Samuel N. Rhoads
Haddonfield, NJ, October 20th, 1918.
Published On Tri-Counties Site On 7/23/2001
By Joyce M. Tice
Email: JoyceTice@aol.com
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