Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-11-27
Professor Perkins on the Robin Again.

containing a reprint OF our article, and |
were addressed to the editor, and not to the
paper. We are glad to have an article on
the subject direct from the Professor, and
meant for publication. Our readers will
here see the best that can be said, and we
wish them to note some of Professor Per
kins' disclaimers First, he disclaims, not
for ornithologists generally, but for himself,
any substantial defense of birds, and places
the protection of them upon Unitarian
grounds. We are glad of that, for those are
grounds upon which the question can be
discussed. Sentiment is too elusive and Ca
PRECIOUS. 1t would spare beautiful, sweet
voiced devil, and release indifferently to
slaughter dull-colored, carving or croak-
ing benefactor.
as he would seem to do, that we are opposed
to printed facts because they are printed.
We have contended with the enemies of
"book farming" too many years for that.
But in that very strife we have been forced
to see that great part of the opposition to
book farming was based upon the ground
that the books do not teach facts, but mere
guesses and theories,-or at best only repe-
titions of imperfect or incorrect observa-
tions that were not, in full sense, facts at
all. The Professor must be aware that
it is as true in science as it is in litera
ture that there are few voices, but many
echoes"
No one disputes that the robin is insect
ivorous, or that it eats many insects, when
it cannot get anything else. The issue is,
first, whether the insects it eats are to any
great extent hurtful to farmers or gardeners
second, whether it ever eats cut-worms, cur
rant-worms cabbage-worms, canker-worms,
leaf-rollers, tent and forest caterpillars, or
the saperda beetle that produces the apple
borer; third, whether, if it eats these, or any
of them, it eats enough to pay for the cur
rants, cherries, grapes, raspberries, straw
berries etc., that it destroys. On these
points we think we can say with truth that
the fruit-growers are on one side and the
ornithoogists on the other. Now what
should we think and say if the entomolo-
gists were to declare that the curculios that
destroy our plums and peaches are bene-
fetal We should appeal to the facts, and
show that if we did not kill the curculio
we should have to give up plum-growing
entirely. With us it is exactly that way as
to the robin. Either we must give up small
fruit culture, or thin off the robins. 1t is
small estimate to say that they destroyed
one hundred and fifty dollars worth of
small fruit in our ground last year. They
took all but $3.50 worth of raspberries, that
alone would have yielded ten times the sum
if the robins had let them alone. And at
the very time they were eating the berries
we and our help were kept busy in fighting
the currant-worms, leaf-rollers, caterpillars,
rank-worms, web-worms, cabbage-worms,
cut-worms and potato-bugs. Over one hun
dred families of robins nested in our grounds
and reared one or two broods each. Yet
they made no perceptible inroads on the i'll
sects, while they destroyed the fruit. If
they had eaten one worm or bug with every
five berries we would have called it square
1t is our opinion that they did not eat one,
so long as the berries lasted. 1t is that
opinion which we propose to test anatomi-
cally next year, unless the fools get law
through the Legislature to send us to the
state prison for doing it. In that case we
shall just give up berry-growing, instead.
PROFESSOR PERKINS LETTER.
I" | wish to say word or two more about
that robin, less in reply to comments upon
my letter which was published in this pa
per few weeks ago than in addition to
what was there stated. In the first place,
speaking for myself, | may say that do not
stand up for every bird from any sense Of
duty to the birds, as the Doctor seems to
think ornithologists feel bound to do. may
have my own personal feeling that the pleas
ure which the songs of many birds gives us
is well worth paying something for, not tc
speak of the beauty of form and color seer
IN many of them; but have never, believe
based any extended plea in behalf of thu
Gated protection for most of our birds be
cause have believed that they saved tn
farmers of the state hundred-fold NOR
than they destroyed, and that without then
vate successfully even small garden, and
believe the robin to be one of our very bes
friends. | am ready to be shown that this
not the case, if am in error, and | am hear
good an observer is going to take the robin i
hand, and his report will be looked for wit
interest One point in my letter seems
need explanation. Dr. II. says that
leaves me to tell how the robin can get
the apple-tree borer. When that pest
deep in the wood it is safe from any enem
but it does not always stay concealed, bl
finishes its work in about three years, an
in the spring changes from a white worm
light brown beetle with broad viii
stripe down each side of the upper surfac
These beetles run about over the bark of ii
trees from the time they come from the tr
uhuii ooiobiiho ~ ouhO, Nheh cSSo a
laid, and it is during this time that the 70
ms destroy them and prevent many tho
sands of eggs from being deposited in Il
bark of the trees; and | am sure that they
very much good in this way. / do not pi
tend to declare that robins will eat all sol
of insects, though the variety they a
known to eat is large; nor that they will c
all of any one sort that may exist in q
den, but that, while eating good deal
fruit, the robin, take him the whole seas
through, is mainly insectivorous, do
lieye | agree most heartily with the sta
ment that "the field is a better place tn
some books TO hunt for facts" but
books from which quoted were not
that sort. The facts gave were given
published by those who had found them
the field. do not know that facts Diet
mined by actual study in the field lose al
thing of their value when printed in boo
and certainly none of us can hope to ma
very great progress in any branch of kno
edge If we refuse to make use of the obse
atoms of others as well as our own. /
quite sure that the agricultural interests
Vermont will be very greatly aided wi
every one who has farm, or even gard
tries his utmost to ascertain the real va
OF the animals that he sees about him.