, 1862-02-27
Birds VI. Noxious Insects.

Within twenty years there has been an
alarming increase Of noxiUus insects in this
country Some people attribute the fact to
. gradual change in the seasons; some to
the dissemination Of insect eggs in seeds.
Both reasons are wrong. Our seasons are
no more favoratle TO insect life now than
they ever were. Not many eggs are dis
seminated BY seeds. A far more natural
oause i close at hand. { The food Of most
small birds Is worms and insects. There
has been . vast decrease Of birds in this
country. They have been driven away by
the destruction Of then natural places Of
refuge, the trees. The band Of the black.
guard boy has been against them. They
have been treated as IL they were poisonous
reptiles provided v III wings. Like Noah's
dove, they have found no rest for the soles
Of their feet. Hence, the destruction Of in
scots has been greatly lessened. On the
other hand, the increased cultivation Of
grain, fruit and vegetables, has afforded sus-
irnahc6 70 . vastly increased number Of
insocts. Insect fhod has become plentier,
and the destruction Of insect life has fallen Of.
Would not each Of these causes produce an
increase Of insectsi Had the number Of
birds increased half as fast as the production
Of insect food, there would have been no
increase Of insects.
We are convinced that by no agency save
that Of little birds can the ravages Of IN
sects be curiailed. There are some birds
which live exclusively upon insects and
Rrubs. and the quantity which they destroy
4 enormous. There are others which live
partly on grain and ffuit-doing some mis-
ehif but FAR more good A third class
prey on reptiles and small birds. The first
should Be projected BY the most stringent
laws To kll| one Of them is crime. The
sec0hd e|asI 3 composed mostly Of game
birds and should be protected ct certain
seasons. Birds Of prey are difficult to de-
slroy-like al murderers and highway rob
b1rs their agocaii0n makes them fear the
approach of nsn. But the poor little insect
birds are TOO innocent and eoafding to pro-
ttct themselves against their wicked enemies.
"A few facts 10 regard 70 their services Is ali
ihe plla We shall olIss in their favor. In
France, where the subject Of birds and IN
sects Is attracting The attention Of the Gov
ernmeni, . certain noxious insect was found
70 lay 1000 egesi In = season but . single
NNIlFtlt NN4 lyuuu " ~ tlloto tlA1ll A-totIt|4
of The egg, ia the same period. A swallow
dcrours nhqnt 513 insects q day, eggs and
an. A sparrow's nest in the city Of Paris
unl found 70 contain 700 pairs of the upper
wings Of cockchafcrs, though, Of course, in
such place food of other kinds was pro.
durable 10 abundance. Il will easily be seen,
tkorrloro, what an excess Of insect life is
produced when counterpoise like this is
Withdrawn. ss5t
N order TO increase the number Of insect
birds. We mnst provide fr them places Of
ab0de and shelter. They will provide them.
selves With food. Every farm should be
studded with shade trees. They should line
r0aduays. Bird houses should Be set up
around every garden. In every family it
should be made crime 10 kill, stone, or in
any way iniure insect birds. II sone birds
eai grain and fruit, bear in mind that they
save or more than they eat The persecuted
voodpecker, 4 lelt alone, win save valuable
trees from the destructive borer Black.
birds destroy millions Of grubs. Even the
despised crow, brought Into the world with
an unfortunate color and with certain bad
propensities, might be made useful II . littll
Pains were taken with him during the season
Of corn planting. II we would raise crops
We must have birds to protect them-eveu
II a certain periods, they annoy US.