The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1897-12-18

K1NGBIRD.
agriculture, but there seems to be a
tendency to dwell on the harm they do,
rather than on the good. Whether a
bird is injurious or helpful depends al
most entirely upon what it eats; and in
the 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 fiocks 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 birds are not epicures has
no 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 iocusts 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-
scended 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
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 a
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
pnngs Of hunger. But the insects which
IRE disdained by some birds are sought
by other common birds as their chiefest
dainties.
1t is explained by the professor that
rpa11nd.fna6in hsn1a rnyt11 -oa1-t - 49,
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 a 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 a 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 h~y-catching birds have en- 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,
there will be enoughfies every day com
ing their way to meet the requirements
of their appetites. They simply open
their little bills, give a 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
reading the professors story about
birds. the writer is convinced that there
are plenty of men who have much less
sense, and who might well study the
commo birds and their methods Of
getting on in the world.
In the scientific study of common
birds there has been many a murder
committed. Field observation is not
sufficient for man, because he cannot
discern the details Of the workings Of
the birds. In order to obtain accurate
and reliable information. man loads
bis shot gun, goes out iato the field and
shoots down d number OF these innocent
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