Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1860-05-18
From the franklin CN. " Visitor.


| MEssRs. EDIroRs. During the last session %
/ the Legislature an act passed for the pre,er-
Walton Of wild deer, birds and fish one section af
which f0rbds the K Hing at any time Of the niy-t
/ ingale, night-hawk, blue-biri, yeIow-bird BaIri
more oriole, finch, thrush LARK sparrow martin
| swallow, etc; and the killing Of the robin or
/ bOb0liuk between the first day Of February ard
the frs. day of September, under penalty Il d,,7
cents for each bird killed.
The object sought 10 be obtained by the section
Of the act referred to TO preserve from wauton
destruction some few Of the insectivorous birds 0
the State. No person cultivating farm OF garde-
can afford TO dispense with the birds; and farmer
even if they consult only their pecuniary interest
should aid in enforcing this law. Few persons are
aware how much the asriculturalist is indebted 70
the birds for thcirase upreventiaS the increase
Of noxious insects.
Some years since a similar law enacted i1
Massachusetts,, the passage Of which created mu.l
discussion and led to some highly interesting and
valuable nvesti cations. 1t was claimed by the
opponents Of the measure that the robin was So
great a hindrauce 10 the successful culture ~ the
cherry and strawberry that no protection o. that
beautiful bird should be given. In order that ac-
curate knowledge Of the usual food Of that bird
might be furnished the investigation was, In ls5-
entrusted % Prof. J. W. P. jerks Of Middleton.
one Of the most eminent naturalsts of that, any
State, and the interesting report in which be re-
cords the result of his minute, and almost daily
observations Is now lying before me. If the limits
Of q newspaper article would permit, [ should be
pleased TO reproduce it entire for the benefit Of
your readers.
The plan adopted for the investigation by Ps1l
jerks was.
It, To obtain birds at day-break midday AMI
sunset.
~. To obtain birds from village and country.
Sd. To examine and preserve the contents b..
each gizzard
The results Of his careful, and almost dai
examination prove c0nclusively that insects -H-a-
nous 20 Ueget1t0u, constitute the natural and pre-
fsrred food Of the robin. and that during least
tw0-thirds Of the year it takes NJ vegetable food
whatever. Whenever vegetable food was fOuni In
the gizzard, il was only In limited quantities and
mixed with insect-food. No vegetable food was
found during the month o. March. April. NAY
October. November and December, and the ve-et-
able diet Of the remaining summer months con-
sisted mainly Of elder berries and poke berries 1t
is hardly necessary to add that the law protecting
the robin and other insectiyercus birds. remains
unrepealed in Massachusetts,, and Is popular auou-
farmers and frUit-growers.
2 what I have said on this interesting subject.
have merely called attention to the preservatloa
Of birds as mere question of interest. ont there
are other reasons for their protection that readily
suggest themselves TO all lovers Of the beaurtU.
Their beautiful songs-their 6lumage, the conf
dence they seem 70 rcpOse 10 those who do not barn
them, unite 20 constitute one Of the promi1sl.
charms Of rural life. They enliven our fields all
forests,-arnuse and interest our children. make
their nests and rear their young in the about
our houses, and identify themselves with all our
ideas Of pleasure and delight. We would almost
as soon shoot the child that sings It's simple song
while it gathers wild flowers in the shadow Of our
orchards, as shoot the bid whose presence alt
song sends such a thrill Of pleasure through that
child's heart.
If there is any form Of unmitigated AMI hopeless
l9ate-is9 it is the killing Of few song birds.
tie who can ind nothing better to do, would confer
a favor upon the world by shooting himseis.
Meredith Nay lst, 1850. SAIL