The Mena weekly star., 1897-09-08

KINGBIRD.
 agriculture, but there seems to be a tendency to dwell on the harm they do, rather than on the good. Whether a hird is injurious or helpful depends al most entirely upon what it eats; and in tht case of unusually abundant species of birds the character of the food be- comes a very practical question"
 Farmers of experience have long since concluded that the big focks of blackbirds, woodpeckers and other com mon birds are not present to commit depredations, but to help the farmer by destroying noxious insects. Nearly all land birds subsist principally on in- sects, and during the breeding season they rear their young exclusively on this sort of food When farmers dis cover an unusually large flock of birds they may well be assured that there is an unusually large crop of insects They are luscious, and whoever believes that common brus are not epicures has not studied birds. They not only eat insects, but some of them are very choice of their selections. The com mon birds discover the presence of in- sects when human eyes would never even suspect their presence.
 Attention is called by Prof. Beal to the fact that during the recent plague of locusts in the western states they were eaten by every common bird in that section, and they formed the prin- cipal food of the birds during that en- tire season. Before the locusts came from the Rocky mountains and de- seconded upon the prairies the farmers complained of the unusual numbers of common birds. By prophetic instinct the birds knew that the locusts were coming, and they were there to receive them. The birds were. in some occult manner. advised of the immediate fu- ture, while the farmers were wholly unaware of the plague which was tc, come. Thus it appears that Provi- dence is all-wise and all-seeing; or as the old hymn hath it: ''He moves in mysterious way His wonders to per- form"
 lnsectivorous birds feed upon that food which is most accessible and which is most palatable. Some birds pass by certain kinds of insects They will not touch them. unless the birds are on short rations and ready to take any sort of food which will ward off the bangs of hunger. But the insects which are disdained by some birds are sought by other common birds as their chiefest dainties.
 It is explained by the professor that ground-feeding birds will seek for in- sects in grass and dead leaves, or about the trunks of trees. Those insects are the most easily accessible; and the birds are like men. in that they are looking always for the easiest method of making living. They will not fly as long as they can walk or waddle No wise bird will make any effort to secure prey in the mountain tops when he can live like prince in the valley. These com mon birds toll not. nor do they spin. They just take life as it comes. and live in clover if they can. They take no thought of the morrow. believing that sufficient unto the day is the evil there of The common birds are wise fellows.
 The fiy-catching birds have an easy time of it. They do not live in hotels. and order their meals sent to their rooms. On the contrary, they simply sit and wait for their opportunities. They know that there are lots of flies in the world; millions of them; and that flies constantly fly. They know that by sitting on their limbs. and pa- tiently waiting the course of events, l there will be enough flies every day com ing their way to meet the requirements | of their capacities. They simply open l their little bills. give peck at the passing fly, and swallow him. If It is a common fly. we'll and good If it | is a fat horse fly. so much the better. The birds know their business. After