, 1879-12-11
ABOUT BIRDS.

Noting In natural history i more
,,.nndpriIil than the migration of birds.
Dnrinr the winter but few are seen
4, this northern country. The swal-
Lou msrlin, robin, and many other
snecips. leave "a ON the approach of
cnid weather, and retire tu warmer
climate. Each has a specific time t0
make ready and commence their
iIigbt. and il Is wonderful with what
eyoctness this time Il observed. In
the summer they hold a convention,
10 consult upon the subject Of their
tourney. Thousands oi martins and
swallows fill the air aud cheer up with
their sports and songs; but soon after,
they have all disappeared. Black
birds, storks, cranes, and wild geese
arc also migratory and observe the
annual season of departure. In the
spring they return 10 us, to share our
labors and blessings In the great field
Of nature. Some migrate only from
one part of the country to another,
while others fly from continents, max.
ing journeys from six to eigh thous.
sand miles per year. The object Of
this migration Is either to enjoy a
warmer climate or to obtain food, or
to rear their young. The old proverb
that zone swallow does not make a
summer" implies that when they
all return to our latitude, summer has
actually come; or, ia other words,
that swallows live in a summer at
mosphere. Wild geese, cranes, and
some other birds are supposed to rear
their young farther to the north than
any human being has ever yet pene-
trated. But who has taught these
birds the physical geography of the
continents, go that they can disting-
uish between the different climates?
Who has instructed them when the
cold season approaches, to seek "A
milder home? Does experience or
tradition impart this knowledge? 1t
seems impossible. And even If they
do know the facts, who has taught
them to start on their long voyage,
and Just when to return? How can
they know whether to fly east, west,
north or south? Man with all his
reason, experience, and education,
cannot travel even on Il beaten road,
without guide; he cannot sail on
naviglble seas without a compass.
But the untutored bird not only
knows the sunny cline, and the time
when 1t must spread its wings for
long voyage, but it knows by unerring
instinct, both the way to fly and how
to keep its course over wide oceans
and continents to the place of destin-
alton. Who can answer these ques-
tions, and explain these facts?
Human reason is baffled, and admir-
ing wisdom bows in silent alteration
before the Creator Of the animal
world. Birds are the source Of unfail-
ing pleasure to man. Their beautiful
plumage delights the eye; their
sweet music charms the ear, as they
visit our homes and sport upon the
trees on our cultivated grounds.
Birds are the source of profit to man.
They feed upon the insects that des-
troy the fruits OF our gardens and
fields. Without their timely aid the
toll of the gardner and the husband
man would often be in vain. The eX-
tent to which birds are useful In des-
troying insects can hardly he esti-
mated. Mr. Bradley, q writer on
gardening and husbandry, informs US
that pair of sparrOws once carried to
their nest on an average of forty cat
erpillars every hour during the day, or
Ave hundred during each twelve
hours. At this rate ten pairs of birds
would destroy thirty thousand cater
pillars per week, enough to ruin any
garden or fruit orchard in the land.
n
caterpillars made to feed the birds,
or to annoy the "lords of creation"
They answer both purposes, and no
doubt even the vile worm holds an
important place and serves an impor-
tant purpose in the economy Of
nature.