Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-11-30
DAILY KENNEBEC JOURNAL. THURSDAY NOVEMBER 60 1899

ing noXious insects, ana WHAT narn'
they do at one season is always more
than compensated by the good they DO
at another Birds usually feed upon
food the most accessible. For example.
ground-feeding birds live upon insects
found among dead leaves and grass.
the fycatcher confines himself to an
entirely different element, while the
swift finds his food in the upper air
The practical value of birds in con-
trolling insect pest should be more
generally recognized. farmer may
kill all the birds in his corn field, but
it would not be an easy matter to de-
stroy the harmful insects. After thor
ough examination it is found that
nearly all birds to q more or less eX-
tent. during some time Of the year, eat
spiders. wasps. beetles. grain. berries.
weed seeds, flying ants and cater
pillars.
The bird is the farmers friend. The
blackbird has been accused of many
sins, such as robbing the nests of other
birds and stealing fruit and gram, put
these charges are without PROOF.
The kingbird is a desirable adjunct
to poultry yard. 1t never hesitates
TO give battle to hawks ana crows IN
search OF young chickens or eggs, anu
is of equal protection to song pros
| that may nest near.
Farmers are prone to look with sus-
picion upon the woodpecker. ON m
vestigation it is found that healthy
| trees are rarely mOleSted nut tha'
when tree is affected by wood-borlhs
| larvae. the insects are accurately 10
| Gated, dug out and devOured. TO them
more than to any other agency we owe
the preservation of timber from hordes
| of destructive insects. Wood-borlhs
| beetles make holes in the trees. then
| these are enlarged by ants. many
| species of which are harmful to trees,
and the woodpecker is the only biru
| specially fitted with beak and tongue
to dslodge and devOur these destroy
ing insects.
The rosebreasted grosbeak is a bird
highly priced for ladies' hats on ac-
count of its beautiful plumage. IL is
pure black and white with broad
patch of rose color upon the breast and
under each wing. In consequence OF
its great beauty it has been so diligent-
~ hunted that very few Of the species
| mental to the potato beetle. and there
are instances where whole fields OF po-
| tatoes have been almost completely
4 rdded by this beetle when the gros-
beaks appeared with their young anC
in few DAYS not a beetle could b.
found.
The brown thrasher is another birc
that is of great benefit around tht
| al EnII IL.
stroyer.
| Everybody is too Well ACQUAINTED
with the bluebird TO need to be told OF
its many redeeming traits. IL thriVe'
almost entirely upon beetles and grass
hoppers, and it can readily be seer
what an effect O number of these birds
might have on a field of grass in tbs
height of the grasshopper season.
The sparrow must not be passed by
unnoticed. There are more than a
species in North America. but the diff
ference is too obscure to be readily rec
ognized. While sparrows are noted
seed eaters they do not confine them
selves to a vegetable diet They eat
many insects comprising many injuri-
Gus beetles, bugs and wasps.
| In treating Of the value of birds this
article has considered them mainly n
insect destroyers but as seed eaters
they perform useful function which
has never been fully appreciated. Al
over the country there is a vast num-
Der Of these seed eaters at work during
the colder months reducing next year
crop of more than useless weeds. II il
| evident that birds exercise an i'm
portant influence upon the agriculture
| welfare of the country they inhabit.
We cannot close this article without
| impressins the farmer with the great
importance of protecting and encourag-
| ing bird life about the farm. Build
nesting boxes about the premises. and
the bluebird, martin, wren and swal-
low will soon make themselves at home
with the farmer. and not only perform
| valuable labor for him. but Will glad
den the heart of every one with tn.
| musical notes and make life brighter
! and better by their presence.-Atlanta
| Journal.