Arkansas democratic banner., 1851-12-09
Vol. K.
Debate in tho Connecticut Legislature on
 the Destruction of small Birds.


 ausquito hawk, whip poor-will. cuckoo, king bird. wake-up, or high-hole, wood becker, cat. bird, long tailed thrush, or brown -thrasher, mourning dove, meadowark or marsh quail, fire bird or sum mer red bird, spider bird or wax bird, ground robin or chewheat, boboluk or rice-b blrd, sparrow, yell lowbird or plIebe, shall be punished by tlne not exceeding five dollars"
 On ifs second reading. there appeared to be in some quarters disposition to ridioale the bill, as scarcely worthy the attention of so dgnlhed hssiy, and .he whole matter was spoken of as '" small game" On the third reading, MT An drews of New w-Brtap, endeavored to give differ ent turn to the debate, and the feeling of members on the subject
 MT. Andrews sad he rose for the purpose of moving to add to the list of birds to be protected by this bill, the names of several others which had been omitted. He spoke of the great value and interest of the race ol birds, not only on account of their beautiful plumage and delightful melody, but as forming most important link in that chain by which the whole visible creation was united, and the comparative numbers of the various races of animals duly regulated. They are designed to act most important part Tn the economy Of nature by holding in check the tendency of the insect species to increase to myrads and, like the locuStS of the east to sweep from the earth, every vestge of the vegetable creation. That such tendency to increase the part of the insect tribes actually existed, and that without the requisite checks the whole earth would be laid waste by them, was sufficiently apparent to all who had deeply reflect ed on the subject. But among the cheeks to this increase none were probably more important or ecacious than the feathered songsters of the fields and groves. Ever in motion, with keen eye and eager appetite they were every moment seizing upon their prey as it lurked beneath the bark of the trees, or crept over leaf or flower, and thus kept in check the most destructive enemy with which the farmer or florist was called to contend. But while thus engaged as the farmers most efficient ~ adintnr nd friend if w hiS misfortune almost everywhere to be treated like an enemy, and even to be peTsecuted for the acts which redounded most to the benefit of man. Mir. A. remarked that several years since, while travelling in western Carolinia and Virginia he passed through forest where the timber on some hundreds of acres was all dead and decaying. Inquiry was made of countryman respecting the cause of this devasta- tion He replied that the trees had been killed by wood peckerS, which had been increasing in that neighborhood for some years, and though they had killed as many of them as possible, it was all
 10 little purpose; that they were continually peck
 ing the trees, until the whole forest, far and wide, was destroyed. This was a good exemplifcaton of what our farmers and their sons were constantly doing. These wood -peckers had doubtless been drawn together by the myrads Of wood worms, the grub of the bupresteS, and other insects bred be- meath the bark of the forest trees, and which were at that time engaged Tn devounng the fresh wood deposited under the bark of those trees. The real enemy was concealed from sight, and the friend who was searching out and destroying this enemy, whenever his keen ear detected their stealthy gnawings, was taken, like the poor and faithful dog of Llewelyn, as the destructive foe, and like him consigned to swift destruction. So 1t was now
 with the black bird, which ever ready to fol-
 low through the furrowed field, and to seize upon the worm whose secet mischief was disturbed by 1 the unexpected inroad of the ploughShare.- Through every day of the long summer he piled
 his useful labor, but alas for his safety it was
 said, that sometimes in the early spring, while
 searching for the grubs, which would soon, if not
 detected, destroy the buried corn, he meets with I few-a very few-kernels of that corn, which his
 efforts tending to protect, and ncontinently de-
 yours them Mir. A. wished that. notwithstanding
 this sin of ignorance on the part of this useful bird
 he could see in the House disposition to protect
 his life from the wenton attacks everywhere made
 upon it. but he ieared'to propose 1t, lest it should ! bring the other little songsters into danger from | being found associated Tn the same bill with bird l that had suffered so much ln hts good name. He
 would, however, venture to propose to add the
 wood becker and few other confeSSedy harmless { tenants of our fields and forests I Mir. Boardman, of New Haven-it was some
 eminent genus, think Goeth, who said,
 "The works of nature are ever 10 me freshly uttered word of God" l sympathze earnestly Tn 1 that sentiment. We are everywhere oyerw helmed
 with he proofs of the power and goodness of that God who has made all nature beauty 10 the eye
 dLu IHuSlC 10 the OuI our pure, | clear air, which even Italy cannot surpaSS; our gorgeous sunsets the dark luxurance of our forests; the rich and varied products of our eem-
 ing soil, are ever objects of grateful contemplation, In the morning dawn or evening twilight At such moments nothing so fills the heart with gratitude,
 and often the eye with tears, as the free, joyous singing of the birds in the garden. It stirs the puIes gentlest, sweetest sympatheS of our nature. It civillzes and reines the heatt-aaa If were deslrous Of educating youth for happiness and usefulness. l would begin and never cease teach ing hun to admire and love the beatiful and won deTful works of God.
 MT Howe, of Hartford, said--ifth there is one pro- pens.ty which would eradicate from the breasts of my children, il IS that which leads them 10 de- stroy the feathered warberS which frequent our fields and parks, or our gssdens; and while would not nnreasonably sbrldge the sports or pastime of my friends from our country towns, l ask them confidently, sir, to aid us in the passage of such laws as will enable large towns, 90 fortunate aSto have parks, or private individuals residing in them so much blessed as to have grounds sttached to their residences, that the little songsers that ire quent them may be protected from the ruthless hand of the destroyer. and thus be preserved, one of the dearest and most ennobng accompa nments to our earthly residence, that God has given us.
 Mr. Burr, of Killingsworth, moved to erase the long tailed thrush, he was an arant corn thief.
 MT Boardman.--i hope not sir. The thrush IS the sweetest Of our singers the prima dona of our troupe. When he sings with a fall heart the whole air is filled to intoxicaion with his gushing melody. He is greatly superior to the nightingale of England, and even the Swedish Nightingale herself has listened to him with perfect admiration and despair. Could l have every thrush in the State my own grounds, most cheeTfully would l feed them for tithe of the melody that they furnish the gentleman of kllinssworth every day. MT. Burr replied that he was well aware that the thrush was one of the sweetest songsters Tn na- tures grand choir. yet it was nevertheless true, that he was great annoyance 10 tue farmer; and he was therefore reluctantly compelled to move to strike out his name.
 Mir. Andrews, of New Brtain said that though he was farmer. and the son of farmer, he had never heard anything sad until this morning, ! Aeains the character of the thrush. In his part of the State this beautiful bird bore an excellent reputation. and if in any osher section, he had lapsed into dishonest habits. il must have been l because in those sections he had fallen into bad | company. He should be very sorry to see him rig ksn firm, tha