Scarlet ExperimentEmily Dickinsons poem Split the Lark refers to the scarlet experiment by which scientists destroy a bird in order to learn more about it. Indeed, humans have killed hundreds of millions of birdsfor science, fashion, curiosity, and myriad other reasons. In the United States alone, seven species of birds are now extinct and another ninety three are endangered. Conversely, the U. S. conservation movement has made bird watching more popular than ever,