Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1896-01-03
,PROTECTToNoF BIRDS.
More Than Half'the States Have,
Laws for THAT Purpose.
How the Little featherod Creatures Aid
the Farmers and Gardeners In Pro-
tecting Their CrOps--Some Wonder
ful and Interesting Figures.

1t is sometimes asserted that our
legislatures are Indifferent to mat
ters of public concern which neither
the politicians nor the great corpo-
rations are interested in. A good
answer to this statement is found in
the fact that more than half of the
states Of the union now have on
their statute-books excellent laws
for the protection of birds.
These laws are modelled, to large
extent, on the suggestions advanced
by committee of the American
Ornithologists' union, who had no
other interest in the matter than
careful preservation of all the beau
tiful and useful creatures of the air.
for the public good.
AS rule, these statutes protect
not only game birds, but songIbirds
and birds Of beautiful plumage. The
game-birds may be shot in their
season, ard certain birds OF pray
may be killed at any time, but the
other birds cannot lawfully be killed
at all. Their nests and eggs also
are protected,
Though some OF the states have
been lacking in their duty in this re-
gard, it is safe to say that any one
may assume that he has NO lawful
right to kill birds or collect eggs un-
less he has q permit to do SO, in the
interest of science, from the proper
state official, or from, some author
lied scientific Institution.
This is certainly as Il should be
everywhere Apart from all consid-
erations of sentiment--which, how
ever, are not to be disregarded-the
great majority OF birds have de-
cided economic value to the coun-
try. They are the natural enemies
of insects and other vermin,
The estimated annual destruction
of crops by insects In the United
States is more than $500, 900, 900.
The state of Illinois lost in one year
by damage 70 wheat by insects STD
000,0 900. At the same time we have
the estimate of careful ornithologists
that a woodeosk will eat it's own
weight of insects 10 single night;
and pair of birds of the sparrow
species-not English sparrows--
have been known to destroy 1880
caterpillars in week.
We have 30 species OF insects
which subsist on our common garden
vegetables. Our apple orchards
have 50 kinds of insect enemies.
Against these regular enemies, the
woodpeckers, native sparrows, orr
oles, bluebirds, thrushes, robins,
nuthatches, vireos and other birds
are making steady warfare. They
certainly deserve protection, and it
is we'll that they are to receive it.
1t has been decided by competent
courts that the state laws on this
subject are within the powers Of the
states, and are therefore constitu-
tional. The protection of birds IS
public advantage TO which private
interests must conform. Is
! Under the ordinary form of these
statutes, person who takes birds,
nests or eggs unlawfully may be ar
rested without o warrant, aud is
liable to fines and, in certain cases,
to imprisonment.
At one time useful and beautiful
birds were rapidly becoming less
numerous in the United States. 1t
may reasonably be hoped that the
laws now on the statute-books may
check the destruction. Public opin-
ion should aid in the observance and
enforcement Of the laws, for the.
legislation is based upon the senti-
nent OF Kindness towards the friends
OF man, as wea as upon sound public
policy. ust stsef
For boys and girls, If not IN all
cases their parents, are learning
now that even some OF the so-called
birds Of prey are decidedly useful
Owls are especially 50, and also GER
tain species OF hawks. They spend
their time ia catching feld-miee,
moles and other yerInins which are
destructive to crops and general
vegetation outh's Companion
--~-T-T-----