Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1853-05-26
Plea for the Birds.

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need an advocate,--that these bright
and beautiful denizens Of our gardens
and groves should feel harm at the hand
of man-that his eye and ear should be
so dull as TO find no charm in their un
taught melodies, in their forms of per
feet grace? Yet not more strange than
sadly true is ii, that boys, " children OF
a lereer growth" can find delight in the
desli ucilon of these harmless creatures.
One could no, believe it, did not every
duy witness, these noble bpeds sallylng
forth, armed with deadly weapons, and
on nurderous thoughts intent, and at
night returning wilh--a dozen robins,
spauows and bluejays, proud trophies OF
well spent day
" ell, and why noti it as such sport,
! think | hear him say. will tell you,
my hoy--(tbere is not much use in talk
ing To man who would shoot litle
Li,d-but when you become a man, re-
member what tell YOU --lhese little
btds were not made in vain, nor merely
10 furnish "spori" for the idle. Their
wise Creator formed them for an mpor-
iaui use if you destroy them, you lrus-
iralc his plan-and nature always suf-
icrs, when the law and plans OF God are
dlsreearded. You have probably heard
Your elders speak of Tie great increase
of the various tribes of voraclous insects,
aud that the fruits are not so far and
ia; as of old but knotty and worm eat
en-. Yet ! suppose that YOU, (nor per
haps they, enher,) never dreamed that
the destruction ol the birds had any
thing to do with the case. You would
realize it, could | tell you how many
bugs and worms and flies, were frequent
ly found 10 the crop of a single Bird
! Cannot recall the numbers-b have
been astonIshed at the amount, as certl-
fed by credible witnesses. Farmers and
gardeners are beginning to find out the
birds TO be their most useful allies.-
Nothing in the insect line comes amIss
to tier dainty looking bills, from the
Aphites upon the rose bush, to the hid
eous caterpillar. And it they sometimes
treat themselves to ripe cherry, or a
tempting raspberry, who can blame them
if, after such dinner, they fancy lit
tie fruit for desser;-and how do you
know, but their quick eye perceived a
worm in the very cherry you grndge
them? The laborer is worthy OF his
hire--and man can well afford this com
pcnsation for their tireless industry.
well remember having seen in
Southern Pennsylvania (where boys and
guns nbound) a strip of young woodland
nj midsummer, entirely denuded of It's
leaves. "The work of ca,erplllars,
was replied, to my wondering inquiries
True, but not less the effect oil the raw
ages Of the aforesaid boys and guns.
did lot occur TO me then. ! had no
thought much on the subject, nor added
the observations OF others 10 my own
Gov. Ramsay, OF South Carolina, ha
declared il impossible to cultivate rice
without the aid of the Rice bird. Ye
81 destructive were they at one tine
considered, that crusade was decreed
for their determination. The follownl
years their crops were rendered nearly
worthless by the tcorm. So they wer,
very glad TO invite their misused allie
back again TO the rescue-and TO accor,
them freely, fair share of the crop, 70
their invaluable aid in its cultivation.
Swallows live wholly on flies, which
in their larye, or grub state, are ,h
pests of the garden. Yet what fair gam
are Their ingenious nests considered b
the destructive school-boy. Nighi-bi
cat The Maybug or pincher, thai chi
dren are SO afraid oi--and from the egg
of which are haiched the odious grub o
cut worm. Moths and millers are lh
common prey of all even the poor bal
is destroyer of the common enemy c
vegetation. And the much abused cro'
and blackbird are not near so black d
they are palnted-as may be proved b
an examination Of the crop Of one {
your victims; fifty bugs, worms an
flies, to every single grain of corn, l.
engage. Why they appear to ike ii
fresh plowed ground, quite as well b.
fore the corn is planted. Don't suppoi
they are looking for grain. No, no.
Bugs and worms, and eggs of worms al
the delicate tii-bls for which they fo
low the pillow.
Thus wisely has the great Creator
oil disposed the checks and balanc
throughout his stupendous works. l.
US beware how, even in what we CT
rifes, we interfere with his designs,
conclude that anything is made IN val
The insect tribes are wonderful in the
endless variety and complicated orgal
ism. Yet permitted 10 increase inord
nately, by the destruction of other an
mails that feed upon them, they deslrc
the fair fruits Of the earth, and becou
an iniolerable scourge. Therefore, del
boys, let me once more beg of you,
spare the birds Spare them parllc'
lari, now, when, just returning from Il