The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1897-07-21

fits industry. But four tufted titmice
contained no less than $50 specimens.
and nine long-tailed chickadees had Sc
cured by hard work 4S1 of these enc
mics of agriculture. Four slender
billed nuthatches had the remains of
22 locusts. But the little warblers also
insisted in taking a hand in the gen
eral massacre, for seven golden war
blers turned in - locusts and 176 other
insects. Five black-throated green
warblers had secured 116 of the hop
pers and 104 other insects. Four black
poll warblers gathered 1913 locusts and
Al other insects. Eight prairie warblers
showed the remains of 116 locusts and
a still larger number of other insects.
Seven barn swallows called in 139 To-
Gusts; eight cave swallows exhibited
326 of the pests; five bank swallows
contained 1O4, and ten purple martins
had sacrificed 265 of these insects.
Many of these birds were seen to feed
the inmates of their nests with young
locusts.
But the roll call does not stop here.
even if our space should; and we would
gladly give the complete recorder
the roll of honor includes the vel
low-headed blackbird. the vireas.
shrikes. the bobolinks, Baltimore orr
cles, Brewers blackbirds, purple
grackle and others which ate locusts
almost without limit. Not only these
birds did their full duty, but even the
ravens, the crows, the magpies and
the bluejays followed up the good
work and consumed vast numbers of
the pests. The fycatchers and pewees
were not far behind, while 34S ''hop-
pers" were taken from the stomachs
CT seven night hawks. The humming
birds are generally regarded as simply
ornamental, but Prof. Aughey states
that his cat caught specimen of the
Tubythroated humming bird, whose
stomach contained the bodies of four
locusts. Ten specimens of the yellow
billed cuckoos yielded 416 locusts and
152 other insects. But the woodpeck-
ers were evidently bent on business,
and did not confine themselves to
single article of diet, for 20 woodpeck-
ers contained S53 locusts and 725 in
sects of various sorts. Even the birds
of prey seemed to have joined in the
good work, for Is owls examined dis
played the remains of almost 600 To-
Gusts and other insects. Not to be out
done by the owls, the two I-awks which
were taken gave up 37S locusts. In the
same line followed the wild turkeys,
grouse, prairie hens and quail. Emu
Iating the above good examples, large
variety of shore birds did almost equal
ly good work, considering that their
natural food is largely found in the
water.
In view of the above, can any
farmer have shadow of doubt as to
the inestimable value of the birds as
aids in protecting his crops? If few
birds furnished such results for sim
gie days work, what would be the
result were a calculation to be made
OF the work of all the birds for an en-
tire season? All sorts of birds were
examined, from the pelican, with its
mammoth form. to the gem-like hum
ming bird, and all proved to be the
friends of the farmer in protecting his
crops from the ruthless invader. How
foolish is he who allows these his allies
to be hunted as if they were robbers
and enemies. and especially where he
allows them to be slaughtered for no
good purpose. Would space permit we
could refer to hundreds of cases, In
many of which the evidence is even
stronger than any given above, and
ali of such unquestioned truthfulness
as to leave no doubt as to the facts in
the matter. A word to the wise is suf-
ficient.
-.-4 H. II. WATERS.