Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1857-08-01
Birds-Their Utility.

We do not always know our best friends.
but experience sometimes teaches us,
working out for us conclusions very unlike
those We had previously entertained. ln
the history of birds, similar examples are
not wanting A writer of note says, safer
some States had paid three-pence dozen
for the obstruction of blackbirds, the con-
sequence was total loss, in the year 1749,
of all the grass and grain, by means of
insects, which had fourisbed under the
protection of the law" Another ornitholo-
gist Wilson, computes thateach red-winged
blacktird devours, on an average fifty
.grubs daily during the summer season.
Most birds live entirely on worms and
insects, and though some are destructive
to our cherries and other fruits, the num-
bers of such are small, and the propcnsities
are to be set off by numerous and valuable
services which no other. agencies can per-
form. -Ft
The following descriptions may throw
light upon the treatment these birds have
a right to claim at our hands:
The Baltimore Oriole, beautiful and
well known bird, called sometimes Gold
robbin, Hang bird, etc. 1t feeds chiefly
on in,ects, and its services are of great
value. They visit our gardens for grubs
only, and thus protect our pea vines and
other plants from destructive enemy.
The Red winged BlaOkbirds, often arrives
at the North ere the spow has disappeared.
1t feeds on grubs, worms and caterpillars,
without inAicting any injury upon the
farmer. Hence it does him very impor.
SAINT service.
The Crow Blackbird, is less numerous
than the species just described. They
follow our cattle, and ca.ch and devour the
insects that molest them. From this fact
they derive their name.
The Rice Bunting, or Bob-o.lipk, is
constantly employed in catching grasshop.
pers, spiders, crickets, ETC., and thus does
good service. 1t is, however, said to do
some igury t, grain, especially at the
South, and particularly when they collect
their youngin focks preparatory to fight
towards their winter quarters.
The Grow Blackbird is one Of our early
visitors. While it devours immense num-
bers Of grubs, etc, it is also clearly proved
thatit pullsup the corn. Southern farmers
attempt to diminish the amount of such
depredations, by soaking their corn 10
Glauber's salts, making 1t unpalatable to
the birds.
The American Crow, devours everything
| eatable, without much apparent choice,
whether fruits, seeds, vegetables, reptiles,
insects, dead animals, etc. 80
The Cedar.bird gathers caterpillars,
worms, etc., which it devours with an
Unsuitable appetite. Our cherries and
other fruits are not spared, but are de-
voured, in their season, as rapidly as are
the sanker-worms, and other enemies of the
trees, in their season. But whatever
injury they may thus infict seems IRENE
diable, as their numbers can scarcely be
diminished by any agency in our control.
The King-bird lives wholly on insects
and worms, without any mischiveous pro-
pensity, unless it be occasionally to devour
honeybees. That he has taste for such
food is pretty well established, though some
deny it.
The Cat-bird is constantly employed in
devouring wasps, worms, ETC., but does not
always spear our fruits. They devodr of
the latter, however, much less than would
the insects they destroy.
The Wood thrush lives on worms, beet
les, ETC., aud never commits depredations
of any kind. Their residence is much
more constant in the extreme South, than
farther north. .ra t..-e a t.ar ..Hc 4
The Blue-bird confines himself to the
destruction Of beetles, spiders, grubs, wire
worms, etc and though they attack the
sumac and wild cherry, and other wild
torriss, they do no injury to the fruits or
vegetables of the garden.
The GOlden.Winged Woodpockcr is re-
putedIas fruit stealer, but with all its
faultsg il is of great usc to the horiicultur-
ist. .,- ,0 ..-iry .-..lI
Thd Red headed Woodpecker like the
formei,helps itself to fruits of oil kinds,
oarryiS off apples even in its bill but
this usful laborer is also worthy of its
hire Oe' much more good than evil,