The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1900-11-14

thirteen hours. At the very lowest aver
age, each bird will require one insect every
SIX minutes, or ten per hour, which gives
us 100 for the day. Granting that much,
both old birds would destroy 260 insects in
one day, and for the 100 days they abide
with us the to al amounts to 81 200. Pro-
viding that the four young disposed OF no
more food than the parents-whch is very
doubful-durinR the ninety days they are
present, the brood would require 46,800 in
sects, which, added to that OF the old birds,
makes "a total Of rs 000 Now IL each insect
Is a menace to vegetation to the extent of
half cent, one family Of six bobolinks would
in fou. months benefit agriculture Just
$500"
Throughout the country insects are ruin
ing property. We look with horror at the
stripped trees in the wake OF the forest
worm, but the woman who goes out with
her tin pan and wing to sweep the pests off
her shade trees may be at the same time
wearing on her hat birds which, imbued
with the principle OF life, would destroy
more worms in u single day than she and
her tin pan would in month
The supporters of fashion countenauce
the wearing OF birds on hats because they
deem them fitting ornaments. So did the
Indians look upon scalplocks dangling from
their belts as marks OF distinction among
their tribe.
was rC Gently in millinery store where
two swee fac d girls were purchasing their
fall hats. OIe selected a stylish creation,
decked with four little song birds, and
commenting on 1t remarked: isn't it Just
too sweet for anythiug2 Amt those little
birds sublime?" | turned away and in my
mind came verse had read describing an
Easter bonnet:
Ribbons and roses.
A-nod with bri Ia posies,
Satins aud laces beJeweed n shirred;
AND there in the top
With a sawdust crop.
| The old. cad, Deady-eyed cOrpeo OF a bird.b
Somehow, the seemed to detract
| from the Sublime" portion Of the hat. But
SO long AZ there is demand there will be a
supply to meet it. During 1899 there were
! shipped { ON Ven, y Iela alone one and one.
| half IN liJus Of dead birds, and for these
millions mi Ii us more perished. The
male bird IL taken when his Goa is at its
best, aud tnu female dies from exhaus ion
in the attempt ~ feed her babe and her.
SELF
1t takes 10000 herons to supply 1000
ounces OF agrettes, and for two pounds OF
the much soughi-tOr white aigrettes SOC
small herons and over 200 large ones mus
perish
In the State OF Maine those who weal
birds on their hats violate law found il
Chapter AZ Section IL OF the laws of 1899
Whoever kills, OF has in his possession
any birds commonly known as larks, robins
swallows, wood peckers or orioles, or Other
insectiverous birds-crows, English spar
rows and hawks excepted-forfeits not 10
than one dollar nor more than five dollars
for each such bird killed; and the d )sses
sion by any person of such dead bisd, il
prinad fdcie evidence that he killed suct
bird" $
Gentlemen OF the Legislature, when yot
are revising and making new laws for th,
betterment of our State aud its people, brinl
your leg lights to shine upon This subject
and prohibit the practice Of murderou
millinery, and enforce the protection o
birds to the extent of your power. TAX
away the right, at least in your Greer
Mountain State, to encourage "A fashion
which causes the sacrifice of bird life, ant
set an example which we pray other State
will follow before the song Of the bird is al
event of the past and we become, lik
France, a birdless Nation.
FLORENCE JOSEPHINE BoYCE.
Waitsfeld, VT