The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1855-07-07

Aquideneck Agricultural society at Middle I
town X. l., last September, by j. Prescott
Hall, Esq., OF New York. has the following
Plea in behalf Of birds, TO which every zen
crous mind NOT Yet hardened by oft repeated
murders OF the "inuoccnt,' will give assent |
There IS an act upon your statute book en- !
titled ''an ret for the preservation Of useful
birds And which are the birds DECLARED !
u>cfu. hy law? They arc ''larks, robins
wood-dHrk>. gray OK black durhs. partril.es
'iua'ls, woodcocks, snircs, grou.c and po-
YER"
The object OF these laws, is to preserve
those icaihercd races, during the time they
are rearing their young. wli'h ct cou sc eve
~ reasonable inan would do, even If lc
were cruel. But why should birds of Sunc
bc ever DESTROYED! Why should the micra-
tory thrush, which is generally called the rob
in, be the object Of Slaughter? lie is YOUR
companion throughout the year, unless the
winter bc unusually severe the first 20 erect
Won in the spring. your cheerful. Soriel. CON
filling friend durin" the summer. and the last
TO desert YOU at the end Of autumn. H..
builds his nest in your orchards and upon
Your fence rails. Why will YOU permit YOUR
children to tear it down in mere wantounc,S
and the love Of purpoSc.c>> havoc:
The Meadow Lark makes vocal vour fields
during the whole OF October and November
when the blasts o! the north have sent away
the warOlcrS, the ,irco> the i;ob-o- .inconS.
the lin,hc>, the catbirds and son" thru~hc, to
and protection. Even the ray,ciou> birds do
little or no narm with Us The little S,.rccrh-
Owl amu>c> our aU'umn,l evenings with his
mellow, tllou.h >onrwl. lat mou,n,ul nU,r,.-
The cvr'ctu! Il,rrirr, balanced on equal
VIM" sweeps over lUur m.,luw> i:ui Swaulr>
>Jtkin- for rats, iur iror>, for mice. sn,krs
and other vcrmn of Ike lo,,h~on,c ch.rac-
ter. Gunner, why should You strike down
this creature, which Cod ha> u,,l,. so in:,uti-
tul and brave, for the mere purpose oti en-
hibitiny your cruel skill? In winter when
pressed by hunger. he may take chi, ken
from YOUR ward, or a pigeon from vour dove
cot, but upon the whole lIc does YOU more
good than harm.
And 50 do all the worm-cainr and insect
catching birds. including the Wood,cckers
who bore in to your old apple trees They
are seeking for TODD, deadly to the tree be-
meath the bark, aud You NAV well allow them
to pursue their usetu! cmp!oy.ncnt> The
black ducks. the wooIrock>. the snii,cS. the
Virginia rails. and the meadow lark> all make
their nests i'll each rcturnin. summer, upon
my land. almost under nv own ewes: and
shall most inho>pitabiy refuse them admit,
ance and give them over to the spolcr >
Forbid it, generosity; forbid it, all We gen
tie elements of the human character.
But yoH say the robins eat up all my cher
rIes, and destroy nv Strawberries Well let
them, if We cannot have the sweet sonr,t.r>
upon any other terms. Let them eat up the
cherries and straw berries aoI welcome, for
they pay Us in music. Welcome 10 the tree,
and vines which intend to plant TO cnticc
them to my home. Come in and paltak e
with us. Don't gather oH if YOU please, bu;
''' .''' "''' 'ot '''' SEC W" '."''
as have often seen YOU in former avs, dron
ri pc cherry into the mouths OF YOUR calow
young.
Come, We O>prcy$, and take vour >calv
to.r,I ,.ms. I,:..t w.. .n WV" i." '','
" ' W. '.'' ''. VIM wv u
w., h.u", o ~ .r, ".:'' ~ '''I va N "oo
~, U' now "a" u', | ,, ''"a a. a.. "'''' 20 lake
., "., 49," ,,,s,n,, "' wy : W. '''' own ">''
CIV. ~" ''o nv ~ ''' POSSESSIONS or
wy, ''.'' ''"' - o"'c 81" an ch'i-
GUS A''s'c pune uow'i from on h:h ana