Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1883-07-21
Birds or Bugs.


years experience, must have noticed that
the ~depredations of insects of various kinds
have greatly increased during the progress
OF that period. We we'll remember that, ia
our ooyhooi days AID early manhood, htlie
damage to field crops AMI garden vegetables
was feared or sustained except from the IN
ev1tsoie cut worm in gardens only, the
ttU bug the boil worm, Cotton ca erplliar,
etc. OF late years those meLtioned have
greatly increased IN numbers, while other
Kinds have put IN appear anee. until farming
ID ass2ming-more tnan ever a phase OF
warfare against insects. There must De
some reason for this increase III the mum
Der Of kinds and the aggregate OF our insect
pests, and We do not 80 far TO hnd II.
Among the inestimable blessings OF d kind
Provldence-many OF which are not appre
ciated until they have taken their tight
are the birds OF the field and forest. AS the
1,rest,-the natural habitat of Insects
their area thus greatly re uced, these pests
nave been compelled TO resort TO our cult
waited feIos. Moreover, many species seem
10 thrive best In cultivated u ounds. Certain
il is. that their number and the extent OF
their depredatio1s have greatly Increased.
Now the birds Il t only regale US with tlelr
sweet songs, and please US By their gay plu-
mage an1 graceful movements but confer
more substantial benefits. They are the
natural destroy ers Of insects, or peri aps We
should say. that insects constitute the natur-
al food OF the majority OF small birds. during
a great part of the year With the exception
ct the diurnal birds Of prey-such as the
several kinds OF HAWKS ali birds are mere
or less beneficial to agriculture and If this
tact were duly recognized oy farmers, and
II they were 10 extend their protection and
encouragement 10 the birds instead Of per-
hitting and actually engaging in the war;
iare upon them, the crop OF grain aud fruit
of the country would be worth many mllIions
OF dollars more than they are now. The
Investigations of intelligent o~rnithologi,ts
0I0 OllSI StuutlltS I'll uatuTc nave VI ldtc
years disclosed many interesting and va'u-
able facts IN regard to this branch 0: rural
economy, showing that tie subject is far
from trivial in Importance. Many species
of birds that have heretofore hau a bad rep.
u~tatlon, have been shown to be not only
comparatively harmless, but on the other
hand are really OF very great benefit to the
farmer. Most birds OF bid name are indebt-
f. ed for such character to their habit Of prey
Ing upon frui;-cherrie.. grapes, etc, bu,
especially to the objectionable sin Of pulling
up corn in the spring. Because a thrush o.
red bird will take a # W grains of corn Ne
is condemned as an enemy to the farmer, and
they are doing the country in gen, raj, aud
their fathers IN particular, a great service
IN breaking up their nests, and destroying
the old ones whenever they find them. While
some of our birGs do pull up corn, aud 9TH
ers steal q little fruit. the most OF them live
almost entirely on noxious insects in Their
several forms. Tue red-headed w~oodpeckel
really one of the most beautiful birds of our
fields, and his congenors-the sap suckers
are outlawed on most farms, and the young
sportsman delights to try his skill by van
tonly destroying them. These birds pull up
no corn, but are supposed to be very fonc
OF the juicy roasting ear. Indeed every boy
has seen them perched upon an ear Of corr
IN fagronfe detictu. But While apparently
intent upon appropriating his self appo;n ed
share OF the juicy grains of corn, the bird is
really intent upon capturing the worm-the
farmers real enemy-that has been r~evelfng
there for days, q I'D this worm is the true
boil worm that sometimes devas.ates whole
fields OF cotton! So. too, the bull bat-or
night hawk, the swallows, wrens. srarroys
hooking birds. cat birds ard many others
destroy thousands Of insects every day
when In season.
Most farmers DO not distiDgoish-they dc
not know their friends from their enemies
among the teathered tribe, but despi.. And
destroy all alike that are known or believed
TO be any time or,to the smallest ex,e1,
destructive. 1t would be far wiser 10 nro
tect and encourage all birds, than 10 wage
an lndlscr, inmate warfare agains, ell,
What would be the condition Of agriculture
II all the birds were destroyed? We do no,
venture to say that no crops OF any kind
could be.produced, bat We do believe tina. We
would have to devise more effective artificial
methods for destroyifginsects, and prevent.
ing their undue increase, than any that are
now known to US, before we could grow
corn. wheat, oats, cotton Or anything other
OF Our valuable crops, and trui, would no, be
OF the question.
The wauton destruction Of inse ctivorous
oirds is a crying evil and should be preyelt-
ed by sesere legal p-nalue.. We have game
laws for the protection Of deer, par.ridges
etc = they may No, be utterly destroyed
why not protec, the sap fuckers and 9th.