Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1897-09-09

KINGBIRD.
agriculture, bu, 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
tt. case of unusually abundant species
Of birds the character of the food be-
comes very practical question"
Farmers of experience have long
since concluded that the big focks of
black birds. 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
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-
scended upon the praires 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 flu
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
insectivorous birds feed upon that
food which is most accessible and which
is most p9latable. Some birds pass by
certain Xxi BIDS of insects. They will not
touch thean. unless the birds are on
short raHons and ready TO take any
sort of food which will ward off the
pangs of hunger. But the insects which
are disdained by some birds are sought
by otherecommon birds as their chiefest
dainties.
1t is explained by the professor that
groundfeeding birds will seek for in
sects in grass and dead leaves. or about
the trunks of trees. Those insects are
the most easily nccessible: 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 val or waddle No wise
bird will make amy effort to secure prey
I'm the mountainStops when he can live
like a prince i'm 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 tho evil there
of. The common birds are wise fellows.
The fy-catching birds have an easy
time of ii. 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
uentiy whiting the course OF events.
there will be enough flies every day COM
ing their way to meet the requirements
of their appetites. They simply open
their little bills. give II peck at
the passing fy. and swallow him. If
il is common fly. well and good. Ii il
is a fat horse fly. SO much the better.
The birds know their business After
seading the professors story about
birds. the writer is convinced that there
hre plenty of men who have much less
sense, and who might velEstudy The
common birds aud their methods of
getting on in tfS world
In the scientit6 study of common
birds there has been many 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
his shot gun. goes ont into he field and
shoots down n number of these innocent
caun.bals For what purpose? Simply