The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1856-05-14
@0uation, 9qritnlture, MLmktts, Allnsfnlfnt DC.
WooDsF1ELD, MONROE COUNTY, OHIO MAY II, 1856.

OHIO, MAY ID, 1856. aa.I
AGRICULTURALI INTELLIGENCE.
lNsEcTIvoRoUs BIRDs.--The following
interesting passages are from paper read
by Mr.. Townsend Glover, before the United
States Agricultural Society, and publish
ed in the Washington National Intelli-
gencer: 8 81 lsa'fot
"Here, however, let me change the sub
lject, to put in special plea for insecti-
yorous birds, which appear to have been
sent to keep the "ballance of power" in
insect life, which insects would otherwise
multiply to such degree as to be perfectly
unbearable, and render the agricultnrist's
toll entirely useless A farmer keeps a
Watchdog to guard his premises, and cats
to kill mice in his granary and barn; yet he
suffers any "unfeathered biped" to tear
down his rails in order to get chance
shot at robbin, wren, or blue-bird, which
may be unfortunate enough to be on his
premises; and yet these very birds do him
more good than either dog or cat, work
i ing diligently from morn to dark, and
killing and destroying insects Injurious
to his crops, which if not thus thinn~d
out would eventually multiply to such an
extent as to leave him scarcely any crop
whatsoever.
Birds are accused of eating cherries and
other traits. True; but the poor birds
merely take tythe of the fruit to pay
for the tree, which but for their unceasing
efforts would otherwise probably have
been killed in its infancy. To exemply-
fly the utility of birds, I will give one or
two instances that have occurred under
my own observation. Some years ago I
took fancy to keep bees; accordingly,
hives were procured and books read upon
the subject. One day king bird, or bee
martin; was observed to be busy about the
hives, apparently swapping up the strag-
Cling bee he could find. Indignant ut
such a breach of hospitality, as his nest
was on the premises, I hastened to the
house to procure gun to shoot the mar
auder. When ! returned, perceived a
grayish bird on the bushy top of tree,
and thinking it was the robber, I fred
and down dropped poor innocent little
| Phoebe bird.
Hoping to find some consolation to my
lconscience for having committed this
mostfoul murder, / inwardiy. accused the
| poor little Phoebe Of having also killed the
bees; and having determined to ascertain
the fact by dissecting the bird, it was open
| ed, when much to my regret and astonish-
ment, it was found to be full ofstriped GU
cumber bugs, and not one single bee
Here had killed the very bird tina! had
and perfectly innocent ofthe crime, it was
sacrificed. After this circumstance de-
termiRed never to let gun be fired on
the premises, excepting on special occa-
sions; and at present the place is perfect
crowded during the spring. summer and
autumn, with the -feathered sengsters,
| which build their nests even in my very
porch, and bring up their young perfectly
fearless of mankind; and although cherries
Strawberries, &c. do suffer, yet the insects
are not a quarter as numerous and trouble
some as they were formerly.
In the Southern States | have seen tht
bee-martin chase and capture boll-worn
moth not ten PAGES from where stood
and the mocking-bird feeding its nearly
grown young on the same insect. Ever
the ugly toad works for the farmer and
and gardener, as his food consists of in
! sects more or less injurious. The beau
tifnl and lively green and gray lizard o
the Southern States, which are seen run
ming on the fence rail, or amidst the greer
J foliage of trees, shrubs and bushes, ant
from which they can scarcely be distin
guished except when in molten, are eve
on the watch for insect prey; and know
J of one curious case in which even the mic.
in reen-house were of service, fol. the,
had rooted up the earth round several pot
i ted peach trees, in order to devour tn
chlysalis of the peach-tree borer.
Il A ~,