The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-09-17
Injurious Birds.

Injurious Blrds.
The following article, taken from the
New York Examiner, is reprinted here as
expressing our own views on the question
81 admire the spirit of those who defend
the birds. They belong to the class who
help to make life worth living by their
geniality of spirit and their adherence
of bloodshed. They are force in the
world, and in many respects force for
good; but for all that they are not safe
people to put in jury-box to try GRIM
inals. Their bias is even greater than
the law requires on the side of the &C.
cused. Aud, worse than all, they are apt
to regard beautiful plumage and sweet
song as sufficient offset to proved Of
fences. 1t seems to me that in discussing
the question of the right to life of the
animal races, in opposition to human in
terests, the just Judge will utterly exclude
the items of beauty and sweetness. The
rat has just as much right to live as the
robin, and the woodchuck as the squirrel.
If we may destroy the one as nuisance,
we may the other. To be sure, as regards
ourselves, we may give weight to agree
able qualities, and on selfish grounds may
spare the beautiful and sweet.singing
birds, while we destroy the no more harm
full crows. But if we do so, let Us recog-
nize the nature of our motive, and not
flatter ourselves that it is not selfish. l
like to see the robins on the lawn; |
like their song, and that of the cat-birds
and the thrushes. 1t is painful to me to
destroy them, and cannot myself sepa.
rate distinctly the reason why it is so,
without much self-analysis. will endure
far more loss from them than from crows
or blackbirds, before 1 will shoot. And
it is 80 with the lively squirrels. But
when Gas happens in some years) we
have an invasion of squirrels, and they
swarm in the barn, the cellar and even in
the store-room. not only shoot but
poison them, and console myself with
thinking that if l do not they must
starve from the excessive increase which
has driven them to unaccustomed bur-
glary. If, then, one has had his love for
pleasing birds chilled by their costly
depredations, it seems to me that it is
quite as natural and right for him to kill
them as to trap gophers, rats or moles.
The only question is, Is there any doubt
about the question of injury? Here the
bird-lovers Casually not fruit-growers)
join issue with those who would destroy
the depredators, and in doing so they are
very likely to tamper with the facts.
Hundreds of writers insist that the yellow.
bellied woodpecker ("sap-sucker y is
after worms when he pecks those regular
ranks of holes sdown the trunks of our
apple and cherry trees, and upon the
beeches, birches, poplars, frs and pines of
the forest. Nobody has ever proved this,
and it is essentially improbable that the
larvae OF any insect exist beneath the ap-
parently healthy bark of so many differ
emit species, in such regular lines, horizon.
tai and perpendicular. As to the fire.
quent assertion that the robin picks only
the wormy cherries, it is proved to be un.
true by the fact that he does the same
where wormy cherries are unknown. And
how about the Strawberries, the raspber-
ries and the currants ? Are they wormy
tooP In regard to the claim made for
birds that they keep us from being
ruined by the insect world, it may be
correct to the full extent insisted on but
the proof so far is insufficient. l recently
made list of forty-four species of insects
most common in gardens, which exist,
multiply, and if not met with active
means of destruction, would utterly pre-
vent the cultivation of many kinds of cul.
tivated plants, yet which the birds we
can most closely watch, such as the robin,
never Tor scarcely ever) eat at all. And
want to call attention to the fact that
the confessedly useful birds about which
there is no dispute (the swallows, for in.
stance, but there ara many others) do moi
depredate upon gardens and farms al
all. Like the toad, they are useful only
These / believe in protecting, both by
law and public opinion. The few species
that frequent our gardens we may spare
or not according to individual taste ant
necessity. But will not the pleaders fol
all birds, Unfortunately, be LITTLE
more careful about the character of thei
statements and the correctness of thei
evidence ? 1t is poor cause that need
buttressing with inexactitudes."