Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1862-07-18
From the Working farmer.
Spare the Birds.

Z
Jersey were induced to pass law for tho
protection Of smsl. birds. and since that
date many OF the other States have made
similar laws.
Unfortunately, old abuses, even after they
are generally admitted as such, are permit.
ted to continue from sheer good nature, and
thus farmers, Notwithstanding the passage
OF thSe laws for the protection Of small
birds, are slow 10 have the laws enforced.
I, is estimated that pair Of rhrushes will
destroy GOO ca,erpillars ip day. and many
birds have been found TO have one thousand
in their craws at one time. oh for bird
which would kill the Curculio; .fsuch a
bird could be found, it would be q greater
blessing to the country than tho gold re.
giops OF California.
A correspondent OF the horticultural
gives an interesting account o. the address
delivered by Baron von Tsehudi, the cele.
brated Swiss Naturalist. at q late agriculiu.
raj meeting a, ST. Gallen. in Switzerland.
"wi,hont BIRDS" SAID he. "no asricul.
turc and vegetation are possible. They nc.
compli.h in q lew months the profitable
work Of destruction which millions OF hu.
man hand. could no, do half so we'll in as
many years.
Among the moe, deserving birds he
counts swallows. hnehes. ,i,mice. red,alls,
SC. In lo~er-garien Of one of hi. neigh.
bors three tall rose trees bad suddenly been
been covered with abou, two thousand tree
lice. AZ hi. Recommendation marsh tit
mouse was located in the garden, which in
lev hours consumed the whole brood. and
cf, the roses perfectly clean. a red,aiI IN
a room wa. observed TO catch about 900
fles ia an hour. 4 couple Of nigh, .wal'
lows have been known to destroy q whole
swarm Of guat. in fi,c,n minutes. pair
OF colden.crc'tei wren. carry insects ne food
to their nesting, upon an average OF thirty.
slI time. in an hour. For the protection OF
orchards and woods, ,i,miec are OF invalna'
be service. They consume. in particular,
the esg. Of the dangerous pinc.spider'. One
single female Of such spider. frequently lays
from COO to 500 eggs. twice in the summer
season. while a ,itmouse with. her youn.
onc- consume daily several thousands OF
them. wrcn-. nu,haiehe., and wood.
peeker. often deI,erousIy fetch from The
crs-ices Of ,rec.bark numbers Of insects Tor
their ne.,lines.
"Tschudi considers splrrows to bc very
useful birds, as one single pair usually car
~ to their mes, every day abou, SEQ cater.
pillars, an advantage that amply compen'
sa,cs for the cherries the birds steal IN the
garden. Owls also consume, morning and
evening, vas, numbers Oi wood insects. Some
specie. OF birds. such ~ .arliug., !jAckdaws.
rocks. jays, end speckled maspies. are
famed for destroying maybus' or cock
chafers. Mos, OF the smaller birds feed,
either entirely or partially. especially dur
ius the Matching season, on ir-eet-, worms,
snail.. spiders. &c; 80 do alec 'h; hedge
sp.rrows. woodpeeker., ,hru'hes, ily'ca,ch.
ers. (MDaodpds.) y waStail.. lark'. &C.
There should be no delicacy on the par,
Of farmers to presen, the apprehension OF
those who destroy .hc in'tet-kill'ng bird.
They should be pursued and punished un.
Ill this ca.,om OF villiully murierlus inno'
cen, and u.s,ul birds. is rendered thing OF
the past.
Insects will cos, the country, during the
pre-en, year. half a. much as the war. and
.,ill u morbid kindness toward those who
destroy our only safeguard, the birds, pro.
vent. many crop from pcriec,ine. II all
the birds were destroyed, We should be ruin.
ed in q single season. and, in degree. this is
being done by mere iner,ness. Woe hilde
the killer Of small birds found on our prem.
,.es, for he will be sure to find his way TO
the neare., jail, IL caught. II any wish to
contest the consti,u,iOnali,y OF the law. let
him try it.
A few convictions under this law, pub.
li.hed in the agricultural and horticultural
papers, would remedy the evil.