The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1854-05-27
agricultural.
Read before the Farmers Club and Commit
nicatcd for the N. Y. Tribune
BIRDS AND FARMERS.

MERS GENERALLY UPON IMPORTANT
FACTS IN NATURAL HISTORY.
Those who have looked closely into various
phenomena of Nature invariably discover that
the universal laws which govern thcs phe
nomrna are always correct in their results
il therefore becomes, not onIy our duty, but
our direct interest, to seek acquaintance with
thoS. laws, and rs nearly as we can regulate
cur actions in accordance with their eternal
harmony.
SO, especially, does it become the interest
history; for where he does not, it is more than
likely his actions will be in violation Of the
laws which regulate these facts.
1t will be found by the obscrvant, for in
stance, that every plant and tree has a natu-
raj enemy. whose ravages, if left unc CONTROL
ed, would destroy the plant; nay, that every
tree. and every part Of the tree, is subject to
its destroyer. But the economy Of nature
would be imperfect, and PARTS of creation
WOULD be anuihilatcd, if it had not apl lied
also rs many corrcctors and protectors of the
tree, and its every part, even the most OK
trcmc.
Thus We SEQ the Young wood COR sapwood)
Of the tree, as also the inward bark, pcrfo-
rated by destructive Coieoptera as the Hahicus,
Nc: which, if left unchecked, such is their
f1cundhy, they would destroy II whole forest
IN ono season. There is forest in North
Carolina, says Harris, Of many miles in OK
tent, entirely destroyed by the unchecked
ravlges Of the Haifica in one year. But the
economy Of nature is supplied with IL corrcc-
t:vs in the creation Of ii Woodpcckcr, whose
srans0rial habits and structure in every par
SECULAR. qualities it as the destroyer of these
insects, whose natural food they form. Other
drsiroycrs sccrctc their IVA aud larva il
in the ntcrstccs Of the rough bark, as the
Ca!oco'n, &c, where these are free from the
search of the woodpccker, but fall a sure prey
10 the prying search of the Tree crecping
Warbltrs and the Nuthatch. Other destruc-
tive insects of more subtle character, as
the lraf-rollers, attack the buds and extreme
tender leaves, that swing pendant through
the air, where neither of the above inscctiv-
crous birds can approach. But they, too, are
not free, for the Titnlice, whose active mo-
tons fill us with admiration as we observe
them suspended to the extreme sp"ay, with
head or back downward, searching out with
restless activity its sccretcd prey. Again,
too. tie upper leaves of the tree are attacked
bv numbrreSs enemies, the inch-worm, &c,
and us they are numerous, so too are their
enemies, as the warbcrs, &c, which perch
with case and luXuliatc upon these precious
n,oYceauX. Yet there are still another insect
dcstroycrS Of this tree, the larva of which
feed upon its hidden roots where no bird
can follow them; still they are provided for
like. and we see the Flycatchcr pcrchcd upon
the highest bough, whose quick eye perccives
lis minute prey at the distance, and with I'M
c:liug h1ctncss darts at the fly as it rises III
the mir and gloats upon its rich repast. Thus
;lrc the worms Of the creation regulated in its
economy.
But the unthink ing and needless ever come
in opposition and suffer by the contact.
The farmer, for instance, observes the
Kng-bird ever on the alert for flies; he sees
him dart towards his bees, and he must be
S'IUI. Ills ldlntT, 100, always hllcu tic Mug
birds for eating the honey bee; and his father
was right, and death to all King birds is pro-
nuunced.
This blind prejudice is practiccd as rigor
ously now as at any period Of time, and meal
tuaac is the mischief occasioncd by this
blindness. The farmer has no friend in the
1cathcrcd race equll to the King bird. He
guards diligently his tarm-yard, and no raw
cnous bird will venture to modest his chicken
lrJVd where he sits. His natural food is in
s,cts, which he daily destroys by lny,i IDS,
they beng his exclusive food: and which in
sets, when the King bird is driven or de-
stroyed from the farm, ravage the tenderst
crop unmolcstcdly. And as to eating honey
bee, the idea is prcpostcrous. Its sting is
nAture's efficient guard against such enemies.
If amy doubt this fact, let thcm produce one
honey bee from the stomach Of one Of the
Numerous fy-catchcrs thus blindly destroyed,
and this statement will be defeated. Mr..
John G.. Bell, the best taxidermist in the
world, and who has dissccted numerous King
birds, never found a single honey bee in the
Stomach OF Il Single one. 1 HIS lof me, Is SUI
fccnt evidence, until controvcrtcd by DEM
onstrltion. But is it not strange that our az
riculturists should cling to such simple pre-
JUDGES, when we find professional naturalsts
laying down as facts, things truly outrageous
~ prcpostcrous. Naturalists too, whose cx-
rcricncc and talents empower them to be-
come founders of systems, whose ipsi dirt ii
is treason in fro to gainsay. Yet Pliny the
elder lays down as physical facts monstrosi-
ties too ridiculous to write now. And even
the glorious Swede in later days, writes it
down as nliurui fact that the swallow hiber-
Rates in the mud at the bottom of streams,
durng the winter; when every known fact
rroclaims the folly and impossibility Of such
an occurrence. And naturalistS of the pres
cMt day gravely tell us, and give certified in
stances, that toads have found enclosed in
lugs and rocks where they must have existed
Tor centuries. But the outrage is so gross
libel upon Natures laws that any one can test
its absurdty by placing toad in a box and
burying it single month three feet beneath
tie surface, and the death of the martyr will