The leader., 1897-09-01

gagged in helping the farmers of their
neighborhood. The 1G stomachs showed
the remains of 1928 caterpillars, IL
beetles, Is grasshoppers, 63 saw flies.
four spiders, and three stink bugs.
Those were industrious birds. and they
were doing their best for their farmer
friends, when they were ruthlessly shot
down for scientific investigation. just
think of it, There were 32s caterpillars,
many of them in the laTya stage. But
fer those cuckoos all of those caterpil-
lars would have been working on the
leaves of trees; and they prefer apple
trees. OF the 63 saw flies, 60 were in
the larva stage.
Investigation demonstrates that
farmers should do their best to culti-
vate woodpeckers. They leave no marks
on healthy trees. On the contrary they
unerringly trail down the wood-borinG
larva, and dislodge and devour them.
1t is picnic for a woodpecker to catch
these tree killers. They eat them with
as much satisfaction and qualification
as a summer girl manifests over dish
of ice cream. 1t usually happens that
after these wood-boring larva are de-
stroyed, the holes are filed with col
opies of ants. Do the woodpeckers
leave them to thrive there? Not much,
they like ants pretty well, too; and
they watch those holes carefully, well
Knowing that they will have an epicu-
rean festival of ants after little while
and consequently they keep the trees
clean all the time. IT is their business
and pleasure to do so. Two flicker
woodpeckers' stomachs were examined
in the laboratory, and they each con-
tanned 1900 ants, besides the wood-bor'
| ing larva. Those were good wood
Ieckers, and ought to have been KEEP;
and cultivated by the farmers firesides
as near neighbors and close friends.
The kingbird comes in for word oil
praise. He is distinctly fly catcher
and takes large portion of his food on
the wing. The kiugbird also watches
the trees closely, and gathers in all
sorts of insects. This bird has been
suspected of catching honey bees; bu,
an Iowa farmer says that he shot a
dozen kingbirds near his hives, and
found not a single bee in any one OF
their stomachs. Therefore he con,
cludes that the kingbird is guiltless o,
this charge; modified by the fact that in
various parts of the country IA king
birds were killed, and 40 drone bees
were found in their stomachs. Isn't
that wonderful? How in the realm oj
intelligence could those birds know
that the drones were proper prey, while
the working bees and queens must be
spared?
The meadow lark is complimented
because of the fact that it feeds al
most wholly upon insects. In 23s
stomachs examined, ID was discovered
that 70 per cent. of the food of the birds
consisted of insects alone. 1t nests on
the ground. and walks about with
dainty step, knowing that it is well
come visitor and therefore not in fear
Of human assault. The meadow lark
is wholly beneficial. and is not guilty
of the common charge of pulling sprout-
ing grain. 1t loves fat bugs and beetles,
and takes grasshoppers and caterpil-
lars also, whenever they can be found
Even when the ground is covered with
snow, this bird finds insects somehow,
and does not seek the granaries. 1t Is
very skillful insect catcher.
This letter contains only an epitome
Of the proofs presented in favor of ths
farmers friend, the common birds.
SMITH p. FRI,