New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-05-17
CITY ITEMS.

The BmDs.-Go out among the trees in the orchard
or through the grove, or look into the hedgerows
peep under the old bridge down the lane or 90 to the
barn; 90 anywhere, everywhere, where you WILL and
at this .eason-this lovely May season-you viii find
tie brds-busy merry, singing birds; hard at work
they are too building their houses-crades rather
and all the time keeping up concert of sweet music.
Various are their in selecting their sites for
their nosting-paces, some hiding away from man,
some coming up to his very door like the martin
and swallow, under his roof and protection Robin.
redbreast almost invariably comes into the orchard,
sometimes on the trees, sometimes the fence,
times where kindly treated under the shed by the barn
or house.
The woodpecker-the same one that was tapping
"the hollow beach-tree7 makes holes in the old ap
ple-trees into which for years afterward the pretty
bluc-brd creeps and rears its annual brood.
The black bird, the most numerous of the family of
small birds, mostly nests in the swamp; except one
variety initiating the crow that goes into the highest
trees such as the spruce with dark thick top, where
boys nor small shot cannot come.
In the meadow we find the sly nest of the quail and
lark and several small birds; and in the thickest
bushes the home OF the brown thrush. lie is natural
musician sweet bird full of gee and cheerfulness;
but the merriest and most amusing of the whole family
is the noisy little boboliuk.
We look upon birds as among the essentials of
landscape and would soon think of chopping down
the orchard, shooting the turkeys and wringing the
uecks off of the barn-yard fowls making mutton of
the sheep giving the lambs to the dogs to think
of destroying the birds or driving them from the
premises.
Going cunning" with the murderous intent TO
Kill such birds ought to consgn man to the nfamy
that apt to attach to a savage Or a brute who
wantony kills the finest Of Gods creation
Without birds country il desoate; with them it
Is always cheerful Their songs would enlivcn the
heart of a stone or make miser for the moment for
get his money
The association Of children with birds when taught
to love them and destroy their nests has direct
and certain tendency to improve their natures the
church or family freside. Teach child that birds
are among the good gifts Of God TO man, and il Is
hardly possible that the child will grow up to manhood
without being possessed Of some Of the attributes Of
the sweet songsters OF the grove.
And yet there are parents who allow their children
to wage incessant war upon the birds never thinking
of the injury they doing their young minds or how
many destructive enemies they entaing upon the
crops in the shape of countless caterpiars, grubs
worms
We don't know Of higher Christian duty for a min
lister to engage in than effort to preserve the birds
in hs parish
We would impress upon the mind Of every child
that the command " thou shalt not kill" meant these
dear little birds well things OF higher degree.
Thou shalt not wsntonly kill single thing Of all crea
ton that not necessary for mans sustenance that
Is not detrimental TO his interest
Children should be taugs not only to love the music
of birds, but TO look upon them as models Of beauty
and affection 10 their mates and to their young In
stead of driving them away from the house encourage
them to come and perch upon the window-sn and
build their nests under the caves.
Don't tell Us they destroy the small fruit. Plant
enough for you and them. they do eat fruit they
do eat worms, aud YOU well afford 10 give them
few cherries and cusnts for what they have done for
you.
Around the City there is difficulty in preserving
the birds because all the groves are infested with an
abominsble nuisance in the shape Of big boys and
proving loafers 3" out for days shooting"
They ought TO be cut for days shooting. and that
should be at their idle carcasses with fine salt and
peppercorns, and every owner Of land should be a.
lowed by law thus to salt and pepper any Of these idle
vagabonds who come upon his grounds without leave
TO doom the birds to destruction.
Farmers let your motto be-and impress it upon
all your family-Neyer Kill bid.