The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1905-11-24
PROTECT THE BIRDS.
ahey WoaId Save Us Esiiiions OF Dol
lars Evcry Year.

To the Editor Of The State:
ThS announcement In ycuv Issue 0:
the 17th that an effort will be M; de
on Monday night to stimulate an in
terest in the State Audubon sc clety is
very gratifying to me, as 1t has for
a number OF years been MY object to
secure better protection for non.game
birds whose rapid depletion in this
state ID q matter Of the utmost eco
nomic Importance to the agricultural
Int rests.
The actual damage done to Drops In
q single season by insects Is In the
aggregate enormous amounting to the
vaiue OF not only thousands but mil.
lions Of dollars.
Practically the only method Of dc
creasing the number Of harmful and
destructive inSects 10 to find an enemy
TO them that preys on them, and birds
90 this betttr and more assiduously
than any other known agent. With the
increasing Of In &C eating birds there
Will be a decrease of insects.
No doubt Mr., Pearson will tell us
how we may encourage the increase Of
the birds, and the Audubon society
will see to 1t that the best methods
will be put into eff OF.
La m3 mind the boy.with. the.gun
Is one Of the deadliest and most per
sistent enemies of all the feataored
tribe. He kills for pleasure, but 1t is
a sad commentary that his innocent
pleasure In learning to shoot should be
heightened by tho admixture Of the
still moro innocent blood OF any and
all birds that como Within his range
Perhaps tho Audubon 90cie6y will belp
to teach him that q boards for O Nsr.
get will afford HAM equal pleasure In
learning to shoot and that the lives Of
birds should be protected rather than
destroyed.
The society can also teach us what
birds should be destroyed, because
they prey on the eggs and young Of
the desirable kinds, and thus sfford
those boys who must spill blood an
outlet for the cravings.
I do not write this In q sentimental
vein, but wholly from tho practical
standpoint Of the urgent need Of Of.
fective means for checking the ravag.
es Of insects injurious to crops. In some
X c3nb years One.fourth Of tho corn
crop Of this State has been destroyed
by one insect alone-the oorn stalk
borer, and this is not the only insect
THAI Injuries the corn crop.
l have no particular liking for the
so.callcd English sparrow and believe
thai the total determination Of the
sparrow would be s distinct gain, not
so much On account Of tho actual harm
they do. but owing TO their pugnac
ious aid u%nfriendly nature, which pre-.
Guides their living In peaoe and har.
mony with other varieties Of birds,
aud their we'll known lighting ability
They soon become cole occupants of
any promises they see 1T 90 CHOOSE for
habitation, whether 1t be city groves
or coupery fields.
Perhaps Prof. Pearson can prove
the sparrow to be Of some use, but l
believe that our oily ordinance should
be amended to allow the small boy
the privilege Of shooting the sparrow
ON sight" and even 10 offer q per
capita price for every sparrow killed.
The stuiy Of animate nature should
be begun In the primary GLASSES in
every school In the State, and be con.
tinued through the highest grades 30
that evsry pupil should become thor.
oughly fam.lia with evory form CT
wild animal, bird or insect Of the
State and learn to disc .iminate de
tween the good" and the"bad," to
roteot the former and destroy the
latter. IL might In time have o very
strong influence yer them when, as
men they become employees, employers
and jurymen.
/ sincerely hope that the State
branch Of the Audubon society will
become an active, able and thoroughly
live institution. J. w. Bauer.
Columbia, Nov. II, 1906.