The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1885-12-30
USEFULNESS or BIRDS.
An Official Investigation of the Feathored
Tribes of the United States.

The ornithological branch of the Agricul-
tural Department, recently established and
put under the charge of DR.. G. Heart Mer-
riam, is beginning to arrive at results. The
idea is to obtain exact and reliable data
about the food and migration habits of diff
ferent birds, SO as to furnish information
which will be of advantage to farmer and
fruit growers. One thing that is being es-
tablished is grand route map, showing
the movements of different kinds of birds.
It has been found that the great number of
birds in passing over the country 10 not
spread over o wide area, but that they have
certain beaten tracks, SO to speak, that they
always follow. They have established
routes which their ancestors have been
travelling over hundred of years, and
have regular places to stop for refreshments.
They generally follow the low lands, keep
ing by river when they have one in their
course, or go along the coast, and they al
ways follow exactly the same course year
after year. Here comes in the investigation
of food habits. Stomachs of birds are be-
ing received here by the thousand and ex-
amined. The professor says: "1he most
desperate criminal we have had to deal
with is the pugnacious little English spar
row. He makes no defence whatever, and
he has been convicted and sentenced to
death. He has been caught in the act Of
committing most terrible depredations, and
npon examination his stomach has been
found to be overloaded with stolen proyis-
ions. He is the worst of oil the feathered
criminals. His conviction was upon very
strong evidence, but more damaging testi-
mony is coming in every day. Here is an
affidavit which sets forth that an immense
ont field has been completely stripped of its
crop by immense bands of these impudent
little robbers.
The crow has appeared in his own de-
fence and has made ont very good case
for himself. He is very intelligent, as are
all the starting family. He pleaded guilty
to eating corn that has just been planted,
and acknowledges that he steals chicken
occasionally and eats eggs, and that he has
even gone SO far rs to steal silver spoons
and bright sparkling jewelry, of which he
is very fond. But he protests that he makes
ample returns for all of these depredations
by clearing out bugs and worms and grass
hoppers, that if left alone would do much
more harm than he does. He claims that
be is working the farm ON shares, and asks
for his own subsistence only very small
part Of what he saves to the farmer. He is
very profound bird, and seems to have
the best of the case. An analysis of the
stomach shows very small percentage of
grain. In fact the English sparrow" con-
tnued the professor, 6 is the only one tho
has been convicted All the rest compen-
safe in some way for their wrongdoings,
and in the balance of good and bad the
good outweighs the bad by great DEAL
The robin is an invaluable bird, and
the meadow lark is harmless and happy,
bis sweet voice cheering the early rising
farmer. When all the cases on the docket
are tried it will be found that very few birds
could be dispensed with. Too many have
already been condemned ON circumstantial
evidence. Farmers see focks of birds on
their grain fields and at once conclude that
they are eating the grain. In this way they
accused the bobolink. l went out into
Virginia with my gun not long ago. The
farmers told me bobolinks were devouring
their grain. Great numbers Of the birds
we're in the fields, apparently eating the
grain, but shot about forty of them, and
when | examined their stomachs ! found
not a sign of grain, but any number of in.
sects.