Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1882-06-22
sEA-GULLs AND CRICKHTs.
Hsw the CsrnaeIds Of the MsrmsH Pion-
GERS Were Saved frsm Destruction.

farmer OF this country has more gem
uine affection than the utterly valueless
- in u marketable sense-sea-gull.
This rather pretty bird was quite abun-
dant in this valley the present year-in
fact, IL is stated that only once before
were there 80 many. In the fields q
few miles below the city, week or two
ago, thousands of them could be seen.
They followed the plowman along the
furrow and were almost as tame as
chickens. Wherever there was newly
plowed field, there you could see the
gull, and as fast a. furrow was turned
up the birds would fly behind the
plowmAn and commence devouring the
insects which were thus exposed to
sight. They seemed perfectly fearless.
And they have good reason 10 be fear.
less here, for the farmer looks upon
them as his friend, and they seem to
understand fully that he holds them in
that light. They fly all about him,
within three or four feet, and while
perhaps unwilling to submit 10 being
caught, they will allow any other fsmil-
iarity that can be practiced, for they
themselves will take n great many
good-nAtured liberties. They will not
touch grain, or anything that the
farmer desires should remain IN
touched; they only eat the worms and
insects which are injurious TO the soil
and to crops. Years ago q Law was
passed, making 1t an ofTense 10 kill one
OF these birds. The law is probably
yet on the statute books. but it is liter
ally dead letter, because there has
been no occasion to call the Law into
life. A farmer - in fact, any person
acquainted with the habits OF the sea.
gull-would almost think OF wantonly
killing one Of his own chickens as Of
Intentionally hArming one OF these
queer birds. As before stated, q law
was passed by the legislature, making
it an offenSe to kill q sea-gull; it was
passed for this reason:
In the second year after tho pioneers
had arrived herein 1SiS-the large
black crickets common to these noun
tainous regions made their appearance
in this and some other valleys In clouds
-fguratively speaking. They did not
Ay, but came hopping down the noun
tain sides in myriads. So vast we're
their numbers the mountains were
black, and seemed literally alive with
the great big, black, ugly things, each
one about the Bize OF . large mans
thumb. II was at tho time when the
crops were promising; everything looked
green; the future outlook seemed
bright, and the heart of the sunburnt
and toil-worn pioneer grew lighter az
the prospects OF plentiful harvest
and greater comforts grew more and
more tangible with each days growth
Of the heavy grain. But blacker than
the clouds OF coal-black crickets which
came hopping down the noun
tain slopes in countless numbers,
leaving baroness and desolation in
their wake. we're the clouds OF despair
which filled the heart of the weary
husbandman as this new and unlocked.
for curse came slowly but surely toward
the pride, the JOY and the promise OF
the early settler-his field of waving
corn and grain. The foe was utterly
unconquerable so far rs human efforts
we're concerned; there was nothing the
heart-sick farmer could do but stand
idly by and see the labor Of the season
destroyed. Children gazed with wonder
and terror; women looked with eyes
full Of tears, aud strong men watched
with hearts OF despair. 1t was an awful
hour. But 10 . wonderl The sky is
filled with large birds; they fly toward
the scene of the disaster, and they light
in the fields where the crickess hold
supreme sway. Then comes o change.
At once the a 'cks of birds begin to eA.
the criokets. From morn till night they
continue, never ceasing. When Allied
until they can hold no more they vomit
mp the black mass and again continue
to eat the eriokets This IL kept mp day
after day, until not one Of the devouring
host Is seen; the crops are saved, and the
birds hy away. This bird was the one
which could recently be seen in the
fields, and which was then more abund.
ant than ct any time since the event
above mentioned. Il was not surprising
that the pioneers should return thanks
70 God for bis succor. and that forever
after the sea-gull should be looked upon
as dear friend, 10 be protected and
encouraged.