Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1885-09-29
ECONOMIC ORNITHOLoGY.

Congress, in response to memorial by
the American Orinthologists' Union, and
through the efforts of others interested in
orinthology, has established branch of
Economic Orinthology as part of the
Division of Entomology of the Depart
ment of Agriculture. This branch has
been put in charge of DIR. G. Hart Mer-
riam, one of Americas leading orintho-
logists. The branch has been nestablished
for the purpose, principally, of investigat-
ing the food-habits of birds, but will in
clude the gathering of data bearing upon
the migration and geographical distribu-
ton of birds throughout the United
States. The importance of the subject is
much greater than is generally supposed.
All who have ever made any study of
botany know the important part which
birds perform in the distribution of
seeds and the modification of the fora of
country. The important work which
birds perform in.this direction is nowhere
better illustrated than in Wallace's Malay
Archipelago and in some of Darwin's
| works. Birds are to the distribution of
seeds what bees and insects are to the
distribution of pollen, only the field of the
bird is far wider than that of the bee.
Prof. G. V. Riley in his circular desires
especially to learn of the presence and
habits of the "English Sparrow" that
pest of the town, in the Southern States
and the region west of the Mississippi.
There is no native or domesticated bird
that has caused half so much discussion
as to its merits and demerits as this same
English Sparrow"
The influence of birds upon insects
which destroy crops Of various kinds is
well known to every farmer. The farmer
also knows that many birds are the
enemies of his crops, and it is to deter
mine such questions as these, where are
birds beneficial and where are they
harmful, that the branch of Eco
nomic Ornithology has been es-
tablished. AS all know, birds feed
upon animal or vegetable matteror both,
and such feeding must either be beneficial
or prejudicial to the intrests of mankind.
80 the food of birds necessarily varies
with the change of seasons, and young
birds very frequently eat food that adults
do not. 1t is TO obtain information on all
these subjects that the circular referred
to is sent out. Among some of the ques-
tions to which special and defnate
answers are desired, are the following:
Has the Common Grow been observed
to catch young chickens or to steal eggs :?
has it been observed to eat corn or
other cereals in the field? Ifso, how long
after planting, and how extensive was the
injury done? Has the crow been OBJ
served to feed upon injurious insects? If
so, what kind of insects were DESTROYED.
and to what extent?
Has the Grow Blackbird or Grakle
been observed to carry off the young of
the Robin or of other small birds. or to
destroy their eggs? When breeding near
the house, has it been observed to drive
Off small birds (such as Robins. Blue
birds, etc., which had previously made
their abode on the premises? Has it
been observed to eat corn or other cereals
IN the field? If SO, how long after plant
ing, and how extensive was the injury
done? Has the Crow Blackbird been OBJ
served to feed upon injurious insects? If
80, what kinds of insects were thus de-
stroyed, and to what extent?
Has the naturalized exotic, the So
called "English-Sparrow, been observed
% drive off any of our natural birds? If
20, what species were SO expelled from
heir former haunts? Has this Sparrow
been observed to feed upon cereals or
'ther farm crops? Ifso, what kinds were
INJURED and to what extent?
Has the "English-Sparrow' been OBJ
served to feed upon or wantonlv iniure
,rapes or other fruits? If so, to what ex-
ent? What measures, if any, have been
Idopted to remedy the evil?
What birds, if any, have been observed
Q iced upon the canker worm, army
Vorm, tent caterpiller, cut-worm, cotton
Vorm, cabbage worm, currant worm.
iocky Mountain locust, or other grass
loppers, periodical locust (Cicada), Colo
ado potatoe-beetle, chinch bug, Hessian
y, or other noxious insects?
What birds are considered to be in Z
1rlous to crops and small fruits, and
that kinds are regarded as beneficial?
'n what facts are these opinions based? !? A
Has any kind of bird been observed to L
ed upon the honey bee? If SO, what a
pecies and how extensive has been the p
ljury?
We have quoted these questions rather al
Stensively that our readers may know IL