The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1891-09-05

of facts and figures produced by differ
cnt observers, and the wide difference
of opinion which exists among scientific
men as To their exact height, Mr.. Paul
sen infcrS that the aurora only appears
nj II considerable height in the temper
ate zone, while in the auroral zone
proper the phenomenon is generally
produced in the lower atmosphere.
Birds Beneficial to Horticulture.
As Ia the birds which are beneficial
To horlculiuriStS and their interests, il
would be much easier 10 give II list of
those which are injurious: find the
balance IN nearly every case in favor
of the birds. Every circumstance al
tending the matter should be consider
ed before rendering Judgment. Some
birds do damage to small fruits, but
they far more than balance this bN
| feeding largely upon the injurious in
sects, which, infcst the same fruits.
append list, naming many of them
in groups only, putting the most use
ful groups first.
BIRDS BENEFICIAL TO HORTICULTURAL
INTERESTS.
| !. Bluebird, feeds entirely upon in
sects, moStly v injurious kinds.
,. The vireos, or greenlets Qhree
species commom, feed mostly on leaf
eating Iarvm.
,. The lly-catchers pewee, king
bird, etc, sever species,) feed entirely
on diurnal flies, moths, etc. The king
bird does no appreciable injury to bees
| 4. The woodpeckers. Every mem
Der of this family is useful, and none
do any damage which cannot be pre-
vented without destroying the birds
These birds are not protected by our
state law, Il matter which should be
remedIed without delay.
D. The wood-warblers especially
the common yellow bird.
q. The orioles (without exception. J
:. The swallows (without excep.
tiom.)
4. The cedar bird known as cherry
bird. Specimens of this bird captured
show that except in the cherry season,
) It's food consists almost exclusively OF
canker worms, Goblin moths and other
injurious insects.
.. The house wren.
10. The robin.
II. The cat bird.
II. The broFn thrush.
II. Most of the sparrOwS. (They
feed on insects in summer and upOl
grass and weed seeds in winter.)
II. The night-hawk, or great suck
or.
10. The cuckoo.
1G. The chimney swift.
To this list,on account of the farme
J in general, / would add quail, mos
e hawks and owls, ,blackbirds, in fact tn,
| whole list of birds except the following
/. The English sparrow.
=. The blue jay (not because of it
: injury to fruit so much as because q
l the persistent way he has of robbin
o the nests of more useful bIrds.)
= ). The sharp-shinned hawk.
$ 4. Cooper's hawk.
Il >. The crow. CThis species is i
l. doubt in my mind)
IS 6. The turtle dove. (This bir
il does no harm, but rs it also does NJ
l. do any positive good, it is of doubtfl
e utility. | do not think they should i
c destroyed. have been told that the
II puncturc the grapes when ripe, br
'e this has never come under my ow
m nOticc.)
he This is rough list hastily made.
Is includes only such us think are
e rectly useful to the horticulturist
will say, further, that it does not +
g quire that the orchardist shall dcstro
y birds that feed upon his fruit to kee
10 them off. \ few blank charges
IN powder shot into the midst of the III:
lc raudcrs will be as effectual i'm keepir
I" the birds away from cherries, as q
hs the destruction that can be dealt o
III with n shotgun. 1t is absolutely cru
$. to shoot birds at that season, us all Il
'd young in the nests starve to deaf
he when the parent birds are destroyed.
is Stone forests are found in varlo