The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1875-09-30

Ply OF lOOu. IlC hCpI luCICdoihS thc
supply of the other, BIZ. it rather de-
creased in weight. On the eleventh
day it weighed twenty pennyweights,
: and he gayeit forty earth worms. 1t
was not until the fourteenth day that
it began TO increase in weight, at which
time he gave it sixty-eight earth
worms, weighing thirty-four penny
weights, while the bird weighed but
twenty-four pennyweights. He there
fore ate forty-onc per cent. more than
his own weight in twelve hours,
weighing after it twenty-nine penny
weights, or fifteen per cent. less than
the food he had eaten in that time. lie
afterwards fed the bird on beef with
similar results.
a few years since, section Of the
State of Pennsylvania swarmed with
grasshoppers which were destroyed by
large flocks of Plover. The Gull has
sometimes performed the same office.
We have it on the authority of nur-
seryman and fruit-grower in this coun
", that few years ago, when the
Canker Worm was making such sad
havoc on the orchards Of Peniield,
Wild Pigeons flocked into the neigh
borhood in such numbers, as TO afford
rare sport for gunners out of the usu-
al season. Our informant states that
he joined in the sport, until an exam
ination of the birds crop revealed the
fact that they were messengers of mer-
cy come among them for the purpose
of feeding upon their common enemy,
the Canker Worm. Obeying a divine
ly appointed law of their nature, they
were as much agents of the Creator,
as though their visit had been a "spe-
cial providence" Is it wise to reject
such assistance, or is it necessary to
multiply instances to show that "All
are but parts of one stupendous
WHOLE" and if we destroy so impor-
tant part as the birds, we do il at our
peril?
We make this depression because we
cannot too strongly express our con-
domination of the misguided onslaught
upon our benefactors. But the chief
cause OF the crusade against them is
on the ground that they are too fond
of fruit. Some of our intelligent fruit
growers have openly declared war
against the Robin on this account. 1t
must be admitted that he often takes
a larger share of cherries than we
would willingly award him, and we
know full well that the bird pronoun-
ces correct judgment on the standard
of quality of the Delaware grape. But
if he eats fruit greedily at times, he
must eat insects quite as greedily at all
others. The farmer does not begrudgc
the laborer enough to eat. These are
also laborers in the vineyard, and the
laborer is worthy of his hire. Re-
member the injunction, Thou shalt
not muZzle the OK that treadeth out
the corn" But suppose on fruit
farm of different kinds OF fruit, the
birds should take all the cherries and
all the Delaware grapes, we must even
then strike the balance in their favor.
for without them we could raise moth
ing. Birds, however, seldom or never
take the entire crop. y few early cher
ries will be enough to satisfy their APP
petites when meat diet is abundant.
a small windmill with bit OF tin at
tached to it keeps the birds away from
the cherry tree: and grapes might Of
ten be projected in part, at least, by
this or other remedies. If you will
use a gun, use it only to scare the birds
away, that your neighbors may have
the benefit of their assistance in fight.
ing the enemy.
1t is not alone for the services OF
birds in destroying insects that they
should commend themselves to US.
Horticulture inculcates love Of the
beautiful as well as the useful. A
house is not complete without flowers
and ornamental trees. If we incur tho
expense to plant and care for these
shall we not spare little fruit to have
them inhabited by beautiful birds tc
add to their beauty and loveliness
Even the old fashioned holly-hocks arc
: b beautiful when associated with Tho
3 memories of childhood, as their tai
spires were begemmed with the daz
= zling bauty of the ruby-throated Hum
ming birds. a house surrounded by
, stiff Lombardy poplars, or diseased
3 and deformed Locusts and Plane trees
, if these are enlivened by the music O
birds, would be more home-like than
beautiful surroundings without them
Why is the month of October, with i'll
] eXhilarating air and its bountiful har
vest of golden fruits, less Cheerful
month than those of spring? The an
swer may be in part that the autumn
is forerunner of winter, but by so l
; cold weather is enjoy ed more thar
, warm. Is not the answer this, til at il
spring we have the CHEEKY song of birds
which late in summer we miss, ant
which, in the autumn is replaced bl
the harsh, scraping and discordan
, sounds of the insect tribes? Ia spring
the plainiiye tunes Of the Bluebird anC
the Meadow Lark form pleasant con
trast with the sprightliness Of the Song
!, Sparrow or the jollity of the Bobolink
Even in winter we are happier for hear
ing the cheerful note of the ChicadeC
when he leaves the forest for a visit Il
the garden in quest of insects eggs
: In conclusion, then, let us protect the
birds. Besides fruit trees, let US plant
hedges for them TO nest in. Plant trees
) in the highways. Plant forests foI
various purposes, and not the least, tC
encourage forest birds, that they make
. frequent excursions to the garden
Plant trees along the water-c0urses
and especially where the waters take
their rise, and we shall surely have
tongues in trees and books in running
brooks" But do not stop here. For
bid the use of the gun, and Danish cats
from the premises. Teach the children
: to foster the birds of the garden BIZ
supplying them with boxes and kegs
, for their nests. Induce them to study
their habits. Ii is better for them to
know that the II ed-headed Woodpeck.
or searches the trunks of trees fol
; worms and not for sap, than for them
to be able TO give the fastest time Oh
record.
Fire-Breaks.
We never saw more luxuriani
/ l. .