Shiner gazette. [volume] (Shiner, Tex.) 1893-current, 1908-02-13
THE WEEYIL-EATING
BIRDS.
By H. w. Henshaw.

SIS III CIle COJLOu-STOWlng states
to the Importance of birds in the
boil weevil war, to emphasize
the need of protection for them
and to suggest means to increase
the numbers and extend the
range of certain the more inn
portant kinds.
Investigations by the Biologi-
cal Survey show that 80 species
of birds eat boil weevils. While
some eat them only sparingly
others eat them freely, and no
fewer that AZ adult weevils have
been found in the stomach of a
single cliff swallow. Of the
birds known at the present time
to feed on the weevil, among
the most important are the ori-
oles, nighthawk, and foremost
of all the swallows (including
the purple martin.)
ORIOLES.
Six kinds of orioles live in
Texas, though but two inhabit
the Southern States generally.
Orioles are among the few
birds that evince decided pref
erence for weevils, and as they
persistently hunt for the in
sects on the bolls they fill place
occupied by no other birds. They
are protected by laws in nearly
every state in the Union, but
their bright plumage renders
them among the most salable of
birds for millinery purposes,
and despite protective laws con-
siderable numbers are still
killed for the hat trade. 1t is
hardly necessary to point out
that their Importance as insect
eaters everywhere demands their
protection, but ore especially in
the cotton belt.
NIGHTHAWK.
The nighthawk or bullbat, also
renders Importance service in
the destruction of weevils, and
catches them on the wing in con-
siderable numbers, especially
during its migration. Unfortu-
nately the nighthawk is eaten
for food in some sections of the
South, and considerable num-
bers are shot for this purpose.
The birds value for food, how
ever, is infinitesimal as COM
pared with the service it renders
the cotton grower and other ag-
riculturalists, and every effort
should be made to spread broad
cast a knowledge of its useful
ness as a weevil destroyer, with
a view to it's complete protec-
ton.
SWALLOWS.
: Of all the birds now known to
destroy weevils swallows are the
most important. Six species oc-
cur in Texas and the Southern
States. The martin, the barn
swallow, the bank swallow, the
roughwing and the cliff swal-
low breed locally in Texas, and
all of them, except the cliff swal-
low, breed in the other cotton
states. The white-bellied or tree
swallow, nests only in the north,
and by far the greater number
of cliff swallows nest in the
North and West.
Barn saUaIlo20.-The barn
swallow is not as common in the
South as in the North, appar-
emily owing tothe absence in the
South of large barns in the in
terror of which it can find a con-
genial home. Whenever the
barn swallow occurs its pres
ence should be encouraged in ev-
cry possible way.
The barn and cliff swallow,
and for that matter all other
birds, during nesting time are
subject to parasites. Some OF
these look like bedbugs, and are
indeed rather closely related to
that very Objectionable insect.
Man, however, is safe from the
attacks of these particular in
sects, since they live only on
birds or in their nests and will
soon perish apart from their
normal hosts. Hence, no one
pearancecmfwypo Srd hrdluld
need to fear to encourage the
presence of swallows under the
ewes of houses or about barns.
RougI,lOing.- This swallow is