The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1907-06-27
SHOULD
PROTECT SWALLOWS
The Department Of AgricuItur.
Points Out Good Work
of These Birds.
FOOD is MOSTLY INSECTS
The Damage Thew Are Supposed to D
Crops More Than Offset by Des-
truction of Pests-Foe of
Boil Weevil.

The biological survey of the United
States department Of agriculture has
hit upon a somewhat o method or
aiding the southern cotton planter IN
his war against the boil weevil. AS IS
we'll known, this insect invaded the
state of Texas several years ago and
has damaged the cotton crop to the ex-
tent Of millions Of dollars annually.
Despite efforts to stay its increase, 1t is
spreading at the rate Of about fifty
miles a year, and unQuestionably IN
time will extend it's ravages into all the
cotton states.
The survey has been Investigating the
pest in Texas for several years and
finds tha no fewer than thirty-eight
species Of birds feed upon the insect.
1t is not claimed hat birds alone can
check the spread of the weevil, but IL
has been demonstrated that they arc
an important help which the farmer
cannot afford to ignore. Hence an ap'
preparation might protitably be made I'd
can not afford to ignore. Hence an APP
aid in the work On the ground that the
insect enemy of the farmer OF every
district is the common enemy Of the
country, and that a full measure OF
success is to be obtained only through
cooperation. The importance to the
cotton planter also Of colonies Of swal-
lows is emphasized, and the best means
of increasing their numbers In tha
southern states is again set forth.
Enemy of Boil WeeviI.
Among the foremost Of the useful
allies against the boll weevil are swal.
lows. AS is we'll known, he food of
these birds consists almost exclusively
Of insects, and hence to the ~agr1cultur-
list they are among the most useful of
birds. They have been described as
1.-The light cavalry Of the avian army"
Specially adapted for flight they have
no rivals in the art Of capturing insects
in nlidair, and it is to the fact that
they take their prey on the wing that
their peculiar value to the cotton
grower is due.
Other insectivorous birds adopt differ
ent methods when in pursuit Of prey.
Orioles alight on the cotton bolls and
carefully inspect them for weevils.
Blackbirds, wrens and fycatchers on
tribute to the good work, each in it's
own sphere, but when swallows are mi
grating owe the cotton fields they find
weevils flying in the open and wage
active war against them. AS many as
forty-sevcn boil weevils have been
found in the stomach Of a single cliff
swallow.
The idea Is to increase the number OF
swallows both at the north and the
south. The colonies nesting in the
south will destroy a greater or less
number of weevtls during the summer;
while in the fall, after the local birds
migrated, northern bred birds, as
they pass through the southern states
on their way to the tropics, will keep
up the war.
Becoming Less Numerous.
Swallows are not as numerous in the
north as they used to be. The tree
swallow, for instance, formerly abound
ed. but Of late years it's numbers have
greatly diminished, owing to persecu-
ton by the English sparrow. This I'M
scrupulous foreigner turns the swallow
out of It's nest in order to have a place
for its w eggs. When swallow nests
contains eggs or young, the murderous
sparrow kills the helpless nestlings or
throws out the eggs
The barn swallow also Is diminishing
In numbers, owing partly to the enmity
Of the sparrow, but more, perhaps, to
the fact that the modern tightly built
barn denies 1t friendly shelter, and 1t
finds no substitute places in which to
nest. HI cliff swallow, whose peculiar
pouch-shaped mud nest used to be a
common sight under the caves Of barns
n outbuildings. throughout the north
SAh olotCS, LAS LOW D06n enL1rGly Dan
n from many localities, under the
mistaken impression that they are UNI
desirable neighbors because Of certain
parasites which infest their nests.
These have been supposed to be bed
bugs, and hence their nests have been
destroyed and the birds driven away.
ms is an error, for, although related
to the above objectionable insect. these
swallow parasites are peculiar to birds
and not to be feared by man.
Martin the Most Important.
OF all the swallows the martin is con-
sldered the most important to the
idffner, and suggestions are given for
increasing its numbers by the erection
OF additional boxes and of increasing
us range by the transportation to new
localities of boxes containing ola bir3s
and half-grown young. in The baliaf
mat the old birds will be Induced by
the presence of their young to remain
ana Zee them. If they do not the only
alternative Is bringing the young 40
by hand. which has been suecessft,Hy
CON by FEEDING them aneal, worms.
grasshoppers and the like.
Migratory birds-and most Ayne,;.an
plfds are mi3ratory-are the pronertv
OIL n nation rather than OF indiyia,,a1
states, n cooperation between HE
se9efal states for the preservation<nn
increase OF insectiyorous birds is q
prlnelp,e worthy of universal adoption.
circulars Of the survey treatii,r -
this subject eNo. SO, Value Of Swallows.
as Insect D~estroyers," and No ~
aisifas Useful IN the War Against tbn
LOTION Boil Weepil'0 will be furnished
iree upon application to the United
states department Of agriculture.
What the Rolling Stone Does Ca
After an absence Of five or six ~aar.
| Ephraim returned Ia tho 1ft,ta