The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-02-15
asritultural.



There is most ungenerous and unphilo-
sOphical prejudice in some minds against thi'
animal" lie is superstitiously regarded
rs reptile Of evil omen poisonous and
filthy, and Of no essential benefit to man, but
rather the reverse. But were we to contem-
plate somewhat more carefully the infinite
series Of natural laws which 80 beautifully
and harmoniously control the phenomena OF
organic life around us, we should find tha.
very many Of the popularized notions and
theories now 50 prevalent, have their f6unda-
ton in mere prejudice. The idea that the
toad is poisonous, is ono of the most absurd
that can DO indalgod by rational nina
He subsists ON worms and other vermin, and
can no "more suck poison from the earth "
than from stone. Worms and grubs which
infest, and not unfrequently destroy the
vegetation Of the kitchen and flower garden,
find in him an industrious, inyeterate and
voraeious foe. The quantity of these which
he has the capacity to deyourand stow away
in his dumpy and carbuncled, yet capaciOus
aud dilatins chest, is immense. HIS powers
Of degultitiOn are enormous, and there is no
danger of surfeiting him, or exciting, by re
pletion, disrelish for his appropriate food.
Placed in garden, with single chip or
sod for a roof, and allowed the freedom "
Of the aisles and walks, he will do more to
protect the plants, than the most yigilant
hand. To kill, therefore, or disturb them
in any way, is highly injudcious; they prey
upon nothing that is useful to man, but
furnish an efficient and cheap protection to
many plants, the cultivation OF which would
be difficult without his aid.
And here pcrmi, me to put in plea for
another valuable class Of labOrcrs and CO.
workers from whose assistance the farmer
derives most important aid-the birds.
True these often prove detrimental to his
interests; but the injury they at times per-
potnte by their depredations upon his fruits
and grains, is far more than ceunter-ballanc-
ed by the infinite series Of services they rem
der. A single swallow, will, in one season
destroy hundreds Of thousands Of aies and
millers; while the crow, which sometimes
amuses himself with pulling up and destroy
ing the farmers corn, consumes more worms
than would be adequate to the perpctration
of evils OF ten times the amount. Those
who read Audubon, INITIAL and Wilson, or
indeed any other standard 0rnithOlagical
author, will at once SEQ tho impropriety- OF
denOuncing the feathered tribe as useless in
the services Of man.
The robin, although he has {" "liquOrish
palate" and sometimes partakes rather too
literally Of our Z" black hearts," is also
great lover Of worms. He Is carniyorous,
and his industry and perseverance, in cater.
ing for his progeny, unfold to us the opera
tions ofan instinct from the suggestions OF
which the farmer derives most beni6cent
and valuable aid. Almost all the migratory
birds, are sustained principally by insects,
and were il not for the ceaseleSs war Of ex-
termination which they wage against them,
the fields of the farmer, his gardens and or
charls, would, despite his utmost industr
and ingenuity in self-deIence, become in a
short time as barren and unprOductive as
the desert of Arabia, or the parched and ver-
dureless Razzo fields of the Cape Of Good
Hope. Our advice, therefore, is to let the
birds live, and to strive 6enerOleHiiy and
philosoPhieally, to cherish rather than de-
stroy. W.