Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1900-07-10

war upon them, never thinking OF the
injury to their young minds or the de-
structive enemies they are entaillng upon
the crops In the shape Of caterpillars,
worms and grubs. Encourage the ns-
tive singing birds to build their nests 10
the trees about the house. Let your
motto be, never kill q bird, and impress
it upon all your family.
d. p. TRUE.
| CUMBERLAND COUNTY.
wINDHAM II have tried for years to
impress on the minds Of both old and
young the cruelty and wickedness Of
shooting harmless birds, and to dis
courage the wearing Of small birds or
feathers By women upon their bonnets.
I think the passing and enforcing OF a
prohibitory law, as l understand has
been lately done In New York, with
heavy penalties for wearing or dealing
In them, would have . salutary effect.
WM. F. HALL
BRrpGroN.- take measures to In
duce all birds to build their nests In the
vicinity Of the house, the garden and the
lawn, aud furnish special accommods-
tions for the martin which has been my
fsvorite from childhood. The golden
robins build their. swinging nests In the
high elms, while the redbressts occupy
the m iple., the swallows the barn and
sheds. The crow may be our best friend
but is n treacherous rascal. nevertheless.
A liberal feed Of corn In the right place
may save crop. The redbresst, not
satisfied with the lions share OF cher
ries and all other small fruits last sea-
son, WAS threatened with the shotgun.
Then they came In scores but are much
less In numbers this year. The swsl-
lows were kept out OF the barn for q
time, but the spiders proved to be the
bigger nuisance and now they are given
full sway, and as our ranch would be
desolate affair without the birds We shall
continue TO encourage their presence to
our utmost. G. L. CHADBoURNE.
FRANKLIN COUNTY.
JAY.-The birds are the farmers
friends. The increase OF insects is due
to the small number Of birds. think II
our legislature would do something to
protect the birds, as well as the fish and
game, IL would be OF benefit to the
farmers. There Il nothing we hail with
more Joy than the return OF birds In
spring, and IL seems cruel 10 slaughter
so many birds for commercial purposes.
have seen bird this spring near the
house on small cherry trees that was
two-thirds the size Of robin, with
wings and tail feathers black and the
other feathers bright vermilion. Can
you tell what II Is? o. ID. RIPLEY.
Note. The bird described by you Is undoubt.
edly the male Rose e-breasted Grosbeak.-secrc
tary.l
HANCOCK COUNTY.
PESoBscor.-I think the best means
to create a public sentiment In regard 10
the protection OF birds Ia for every news
paper TO print an article every week on
the subject. II there Is not stop put to
the destruction OF birds 10 few years
we shall cot have any, and what will the
poor farmers do for music In the bright
spring mornings? think there Is no
sweeter music than the songs Of the
birds. As to the real help which the
birds are 10 the farmer, IL is very hard to
estimate IL, for they are at work for him
from early morning until late at night.
Even the crow has his good qualities. He
sometimes picks up q few kernels OF
corn when he is hungry, but we can stop
this very easily by stringing the piece
with twlne as soon as the corn IL planted.
n. r. NORTON.
KENNEBEc COUNTY.
HALLowELL.-That there are not 80
many birds with Us now as formerly Is
generally conceded. Among the most
useful birds may be named the bluebirds,
martins and wrens. A large per cent OF
the food Of these birds consists OF cater
pillars and other insects. must not,
however, overlook the gentle and con-
fding Phebe bird. For sweetness OF
song no northern bird can excel the
brown thrssher, but II Is 80 shy that Its
notes are seldom heard. Its fsvorite
time Of singing is the early morning and
walk iu the meadow st that time will
enable you TO hesr notes which rival
those OF the mockiug bird. There are
several species Of spsrrows and nearly
all OF them are noted seed eaters and
therefore very useful in the destruction
Of weeds; but Il has been proven that
about one-third Of their food consists OF
insects, mostly Injurious. Birds should
be protected by law, and given every en-
couragement to remain with US.
w.P ATHERToS.
SOMERSET COUNTY.
SKowHEGAN.-In our county the
grange and other farmers meetings have
discussed the benefits and protection Of
birds, and by so doing have created
much interest. This will be one way TO
create q protective sentiment.
ANsEL HoLwAY, (Member.)
SKowHEGAN.-The bulletin has open
ed up a subject that should find en-
couragement from every direction. Let
il ring from every portion Of the state
that united effort Is proposed to pro-
tect our lively and beautiful summer
visitors. Let all make an earnest en-
desvor 70 get back to the time when In
sects were less and birds more plentiful
than In late years. We notice with
pleasure that our song and insectivorous
birds are with Us in greater numbers
this season than formerly, which should
give encouragement for the future. Let
US be extremely careful not TO destroy
any of the festhered tribe unless we
positively know that they are harmful
TO farming interests. 8. +. EMERSON.
SoLoN.-I think we should do all we
can TO save the birds, for they are
great help in destroying insects.
A. B. WALKER.
YORK COUNTY.
KENNEBUNK-I think we should do
all we possibly can 70 preserve the
birds. II there were more Of them we
should not have to use so much Paris
green as we do now. A stringent law
should be passed to protect them, and
we should teach our children TO make
pets Of them as much as possible.
would wish for their protection for the
pleasure they give me, II they were OF
no use. love their songs, admire their
fine plumsge, and love to study their
habits and winning ways.
PRENrIss DAY.
BERwICK.-We have been taught that
hawks and crows are rather bad birds.
but think II the good they do could be
seen we should find much TO their credit.
| As a rule I think the boys upon the
farms are not as cruel as the boys and
men from the cities and villages, In the
destruction of birds. I have thought
that the spraying Of trees would have
much TO do with destroying our small
birds, as they feed upon the insects, and
| IL the insects are poisoned end the birds
eat them, 1t seems to me 1t might kill
them. I believe we should be very
careful what we spray with. cleaned