Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-12-03
BIOLOGICAL SURVEY.
Its Great Work In Behalf of Our Agri.
cultural interests.

The biological survey is quietly
working for the good of our agricul
tural interests and is an excellent eX
ample of a government bureau which
conducts original scientific research
the findings of which are of much
practical utility. For more than TWEEN
ty years it has studied the food habits
of birds and mammals that are inju-
rious or beneficial to agriculture, hor-
ticulture and forestry, has distributed
illustrated bulletins on the subject and
has labored to secure legislative pro-
lection for the beneficial species. The
cotton boil weevil, which has recently
overspread the cotton belt of Texas
and is steadily extending its range, is
said to cause an annual loss of about
$3,000,000. The biological survey has
aScertained and given wide publicity
to the fact that at least forty-three
kinds of birds prey upon this destruc-
tive insect. 1t has discovered that fif-
ty-seven species of birds feed upon
scale insects, dreaded enemies of the
fruit grower. 1t has shown that wood
peckers as a class by destroying the
larvae of wood boring insects are so
essential to tree life that it is doubtful
if our forests could exist without them.
1t has shown that cuckoos and orioles
are the natural enemies of the leaf
eating caterpillars that destroy our
shade and fruit trees; that our Quails
and Sparrows consume annually hun
dredS of tons of seeds of noXiouS
weeds; that hawks and owls as u class
excepting the few that kill poultry
and game BIRDS are markedly benef-
cial. spending their lives in catching
grasShoppers, mice and other pests
that prey upon the products of hus
bandry. 1t has conducted field expert
ments for the purpose of devising and
perfecting simple methods for holding
in check the hordes of destructive ro-
dents-rats, mice, rabbits. gophers,
prairie dogs and ground squirrels
which annually destroy crops worth
many millions of dollars, and it has
published practical directions for the
destruction of wolves and coyotes on
the stock ranges of the west, resulting
; during the past year in an estimated
saving of cattle and sheep valued At
! upward of a million dollars
/ 1t has inaugurated q system of in
spection at the principal ports of en-
try on both Atlantic and Pacific coasts
by means of which the introduction of
noXious mammals and birds is pre-
vented, thus keeping out the mongoose
and certain birds which are as much
to be dreaded as the previously intro
duced English sparrow and the house
rats and mice.
In the interest of game protection IL
has co-operated with local officials in
every state In the Union, has striven
to promote uniform legislation in the
several states, has rendered important
service in enforcing the federal law
regulating Interstate traffic in game
and has shown how game protection
may be made to yield large revenue
to the state, a revenue amounting In
the case of Illinois TO S12S000 In a
single year.
/ The biological survey has explored
the faunas and floras of America with
reference to the distribution of ami
mails and plants. 1t has defined anC
mapped the natural life areas-areas
In which, by reason of prevailing eli
matte conditions. certain kinds of ami.
/ mails and plants occur-and has point
ed out the adaptability of these areas
to the cultivation of particular crops
) The results of these investigations are
not only of high educational value. but
are worth each year to the progressive
farmers Of the country many times the
cost of maintaining the survey, which
1t Dsay be added, is exceedingly small
!, / recommend to congress that this blu
reau, whose usefulness Is seriously
handicapped by lack of funds, bt
granted an appropriation in some de
: gree commensurate with the impor
!. lance of the work it is doing.