The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1856-04-16


put in a special plea for isectvorous birds,
which seem 10 have been sent TO keep the 81 ba-
lance Of power in insect life, which insects
TO be perfectly unbearable. and render the aei-
cuIiursl's toll entirely useless. A farmer keeps
a Watchdog 10 guard his premises, and cats TO
Kill rats and mice in his canary and barn yet he
suffers eny .unfea,hercd biped" to tear down his
rails in order 10 get chance shot at a robin,
wren, or blue bird, which may be unfortunate
enough'o be on his premises and yel these
very birds do him more good than either dog or
cal. working diligently from morn 10 dark, and
killing and destroying insects injurious 10 his
crops, which if moi thus lhinned out, would
eventually multiply TO such an extent as 10 leave
him scaicely any crop whatever.
Birds are accused OF eating cherries and oih>
er fruits. True; but the poor birds merely take
aliIhe Of The fruit 10 pay lor lhe tree, which but
for their unceasing efforts would otherwise pro-
bably have been killed n infancy. Toexempli-
fy the utility Of birds. will give one or two in
stances that have occurred under my own obser
vation. Some years ago took fancy 10 keep
bees; accordingly, hives were procured and
hooks read upon the subject. One day king
bird, or bee-mariln, was observed To he very
busy about The hives. apparently swapping M
every Struggling bee lie could find. Indignant
at such breach Of hospitality, as his nest was
on The premises, FASTENED 10 The house 10 pros
cure a gun To shoot the marauder. When re-
turned, perceived grayish bird on the busly
top Of a Tree, and thinking that il was the rob
ber, ! fired. and down dropped pnor, innocent
Phoebe bird.
Hoping 10 find some consolation 10 my con-
science for having committed this most foul mur-
der, inwardiy accused lie poor lille PhGbe oi
having also killed The bees and having deter
mined to ascertain The fact by dsseciing The
BIRD il was opened, when much 10 my regret
and aslonishmeni, il was found 10 be full Of the
striped cucumber bugs, and not one single bee.
Here had killed the very bird thai had been
working for me the whole season, and perfectly
innocent Of The crime for which il was sacrificed.
After this circumstance. determined never 10
lei gun be fired on the premises excepting on
special occasions; and al present the place is
perfectly crowded during spring, summer and
autumn, with the feaihered songslers, which
build their nests even in my very porch, and
bring up their young perfectly fearless Of man-
kind; and although cherries, and strawberries,
&C., do suffer, set The insects afe ROI quarter
as numerous and troublesome as they were for.
meily.
In The Southern States have seen The bee.
marlin chase and capture boil worm moth moi
ten PAGES from where stood, and The mocking'
bird feeding lis nearly llalf gown young on iiis
same insect. Even the ugly toad works for iht
farmer and gardener, as his food consists Of IN
secis more or less injurious. The beautiful ant
gray Lizards OF The Southern States, which ar,
seen running on The fence rail, or amidst th'
green foliage Of trees, shrubs and bushes, am
except when in motion. are ever on the wa,ci
FOR insect piey; aud know Of one curious eas,
10 which even The nice in green house wer'
of service. for they had rooted up The earl
round several polied peach trees. IN order I
deyour tie chrysalis Of The peacl-iree borer.