The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1906-03-27
BIRDS AS COTTON SAVERS.
Boil WeeVilPest Increases Where
Shore Birds Are Killed.

oHoTS DTOS are NIiIeOs
The Department of Agriculture has
undertaken the study of birds in the
south and their relations to the cot
ton boil weevil, says Forest and
Stream. This insect is one of the
most destructive pests in the country
today; its ravages in Texas have caus-
ed enormous losses and the weevil
is steadily spreading and covering
wider territory. The investigation
is to determine what effect the birds
Rave as its destroyers. The study has
been made by Mr.. Vernon Bailey, CHIEF
field naturalist of the Biological Sur
Vey, and preliminary report has just
been issued. 1t is report of pro-
gress for the investigation has not
yet been carried to a point where
the services of the birds as allies OF
man may be fully be summed up.
But enough has been shown to prove
that these services are extremely
valuable. The fact is pointed out that
for IL years since it's introduction the
boil weevil has made steady progress
in its spread over the cotton produc-
ing area in spite of the birds, and
there is no ground then to assume
that birds are ever likely to exter-
inmate the insect. 1t is true, never
theless that the investigation has
shown that birds have had very i'm
portant influence in checking the vice.
Vil-to such an extent indeed that
the conclusion is justly reached that
II 1t were not for the birds no cotton
whatever could be produced in the in
fected areas. Moreover, it is reasona-
ble to believe that when the services
OF the birds shall be more fully rec
cient protection shall be given to
them, the increased avian supply will
in corresponding ratio prove more eff
fective in reducing the weevil.
Among the birds found to be de-
structive of the boil weevil the first
place is given to the titlark or pipit.
OF eight individuals killed for exam
ination of their stomachs five were
found to contain remains of boil wee
wills. Allowing the birds only two
meals day, at this rate they would |
consume 125 per cent. of their own |
numbers in weevils daily. The tit |
larks winter in Texas in immense |
numbers, and the aggregate of their |
useful work during the season must |
be of tremendous magnitude.
Other birds whose usefulness in |
varying degree was demonstrated in
cludes the Carolina wren, the western |
meadow lark and the Florida |
meadow lark, the common phoebe, the |
red-winged blackbird, the western sa-
wanna sparrow and the white-coated |
sparrow, the brown thrasher and the
Texas bobwhite. The investigation !
of the quail was made in the autumn
al season, when the birds were feed
ing almost exclusively on ripened
weed seeds; but quail are known to
feed largely on insects in the summer,
and Mr.. Bailey concludes that later
in the season, especially during the
winter and spring months, after the
weevils have left the cotton, the quail
scratch them up from under the leaves
and rubbish.
f. Other birds which are named in
their report as giving useful cooper
alton in the weevil warfare, are the
shore birds, in particular the kildeer
ployer, which is known to eat the
insects and frequents the cotton fields
at all seasons. The same statement
applies to other plover, the upland
plover or Bartram's sandpiper being
one of the most insectivorous of all
species. Formerly it was found in
immense numbers on Texas prairies,
but market hunting has almost exter-
minated it. The bird is known as
papabotte in Louisiana and is one OF
the choicest birds in the New Orleans
market.
1t is suggestive that here in this
cotton weeyil study should be deyel-