The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1870-03-18
Abing1On, Va.


From tile atlantic Monthly.
IN BEHALF OF THE BIRDS.
1t falls to the lot of the soldiers in the
front ranks to draw the eEemy's fire; and
they who venture, in advance of popular
opinion, to present new views, must pre-
pare for adverse criticism and sharp ex-
pressions of dissent, especially if at the
same time, these views are extreme and
radical, and run counter to prevalent pre-
judice and long-cherished notions of in
terest. When in the "Atlantic' we ven
tured last year to throw down the gaunt-
let in behalf of the best abused Of onr
teathered tribes, we anticipated and de-
sired the discussion that followed 1t was
toreseen that the temerity which should
speak a good word in behalf of that we'll
known culprit, that sold offender" the
Crow would be provocative of Indignation
and wrath among the very large and very
stolid class that meet facts and their legiti-
mate deductions with the very comprehen-
sivc reioinder, I'VE know better" 1t had
been so long maintained, without dissent,
l;lat this sable offender was hopclessly and
iardeemably dcpraved, that the promulga-
tian of opinions 50 Numerically opposite
" as int0crable.
50 far from having been disappointed,
We have found occasion to 'thank God and
take courage Naluelcss expressions Of
unsupported dissent, mere opinions based
only upon exceptional or isolated facts, so
far from weakening have only strengthen
al the ground taken in our article. They
were virtual giving up of the whole case.
At the same time it has been demonstrated
ia the most gratifying manner that this
n.ilf"l rnfi,eal tn see. by the light of expe-
ri"nce itself, IS very far from beng unlVer-
al or even general. We have been gratifieC
to observe how generally our best and
ablest agricultural journals have promptly
arraycd themselves on the side Of the far
mers' much maligned beneacftors. The
rrepondcrance of the good or evil deeds of
the Grow has been shown to be at least an
open question. Careful investigations and
their results, not empty prejudices and
bold assumptions, must, in the end, deter
mine each and every question that may
arise as to the relative value of birds, in
diVidually as a species or collectively as a
race. The attention of the scientific and
the practical, in various parts of the world
year brings new light, makes new develop
ments, demonstrates new facts, and estab
fishes the existence oflaws before unknown
One by one the very species which the ig-
norant and the reckless have put under the
ban have been or will be triumphantly
yindicatcd
To us of America to whom this field Of
research is comparatively new, it is both
interesting and important to observe what
} is transporting in other countries in thu
: way of determining the exact value to ag
riculturists, and the utility, for the pro
| lection of all vegetation, the ornamental al
) well as the useful, of each and every ma
} tive bird. France has for many years beer
carefully investigating the respective mer
its of each species of its feathered tribes
) In other parts of Europe, although tn,
study of the utility of birds has been no
where so thorough as in France, the sub
/ icct has awakened attention and prompted
5 movements which deserve more than ou
l passing consideration.
/ Among these are the recent discussions
+. and legal enactments of the several can
= tons of Switzerland. Recalling the man,
G crude and ill-founded opinions in regart
= to our own Grow, so freely and so rashl,
1 yentured by those whose presumption yer.
t far outran their knowledge on the subject
: we can but smile, as we read these variou
c records to see that its counterpart, the com
n mon Carbon Grow ofEurope, while know
: in certain localities, and placed by tn
e prevailing estimate in the list Of benefac
0 tors is still in the two cantons of Nider
n walden and Freyburg ignorantly kept an
g der the ban. And even after it has bee
i shown, by the most incontestablc evidence
}, that the common Startling is the most e1
c ficient of all the destroyers Of that grea
pest of European agriculture, the May
c chatter, and therefore an invaluable frien,
b to the farmer, this very bird in the canto
of Oberwalden is one of the few bird
: whose destruction is specially permitted
In this same canton it is also worthy of re
e mark that the Ring Ousel,-a bird closel
corresponding in character and habit t
/. our Robin,-is also named for destruction
It although everywhere else deservedly protec
: ted as one of the "useful birds"
t In March last very interesting move
s ment was initiated in the National Coun
+ Gil of Switzerland, proposing the enact
j ment of II general and uniform law through
out all the cantons for the protection G
: the "useful birds" 1t originated with tn
! Grand Council of Tessin, in which body
: law had been proposed forbidding tn
g shooting of all birds in that canton for tn
e space Of three years. Owing to the I'm
!, checked destruction Of birds in Tessir
s there had been a noticeable decrease i
in the number of useful birds and an al
S arming increase in the number of noxiou
o insects, in consequence of which agricul
e ture was severely suffering. 1t was, how
IS ever, obvious that the object contemplate
C could be but imperfectly accomplished b