The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1908-04-17

do them harm. That birds do de
stroy a greater or less number can
not be denied, but as many species of
this group secrete nGuseous fluids,
which serve, in measure at least,
to protect them, and as many are of
retiring habits and not readily found,
the number destroyed by birds is rel
Eatively not:large. Moreover, some Of
the predaceous insects, when insect
food is not available. become vege-
tarians, and hence assume the role
of enemies of the farmer; so that
when birds destroy predaceous in
sects they may be doing the farmer
either good turn or an i'll turn,
according to circumstances.
The relation of birds to the So
called parasitic insects is still more
intricate and puzzling. Parasitic in
sects fill very important place in
the economy )bf nature; it is even
claimed by entomologists that they
do more effective service in aiding to
keep true the balance in the insect
world than any other agency. They
attack insects in every stage. OF eX-
isence and insure their destruction by
depositing eggs, on, or in, the bodies
of adults, their larvae (the worm or
caterpillar stage), their pupae, or
their eggs. Now, birds recognize no
fine distinctions in the insect. World.
All is grist that comes to the avian
mill, and parasitic insects are snap
ped up by birds without the slightest
regard TO the fact that they are use
full to man Hence We have compil-
Gated problem, to unravel in respect
to the inerrelation of insect pests. of
insect parasites. that destror them.
and of birds that destroy both pest
and their parasites.
Hawks and Owls Beneficial.
The hawks and red owls spend most
of their lives in killing small rodents.
Their work is complementary. Hawks
hunt their prey between the hours
of daylight and dark; owls hunt in
the early evening and morning hours,
or by moon. ,yht; sc netimes when
pressed by hunger by day.
+ The bulk of the depredations on
birds and chickens due to hawks is
committed by three species-the
Cooper and sharp-shinned hawks and
the goshawk; and the sportsman and
farmers boy should learn to know
the daring robbers by sight, so as
to kill them whenever possible. The
so-called "hen-hawks, usually either
the red-shouldered or redtail hawk,
are too often made victims of a bad
name; for while both species occa-
sionally snatch chicken, the habit
is far too, uncommon to justify the
name "hen-haIk." The good these
two big hawks do in the long run by
destroying rats and mice far more
than .compensates the farmer for the
insignificant damage he suffers at
their talons.
Both hawks and owls often swal-
low their prey entire or in large frag-
and often some of the feathers. Avian
and ven some Of the feathers. Avian
digestion is both good and rapid, but
is is unequal to the task of assimila-
ting such substances, and accordingly
both hawks and owls throw up these
rejecta in the form of neatly rolled
pellets. In studying the food habits
of birds Of prey much use is made
of these pellets, and the vicinity OF
a nest of pair of horned owls, for
instance often contains an unmistak-
able record of the birds food, and
perhaps that of the young, for
months or even years.
From the foregoing it will at once
appear that the practice OF offerlng
bounties indiscriminately for the
heads of hawks and owls, as mas
been done by some states, is mis-
take, and results not only In the
wasting of public funds, but in the
destruction of valuable lives, Wnlch
can be replaced, if at all, only with
great difficulty and after the lapse
of term of years. In no, one partic-
ular does the public, especially the
sportsman and farmer, need TO De
educated more than in the value or
hawks. The temptation to shoot
hawk or owl, perching or flying, is
we'll nigh irresistible, and the bad
habit is having the natural result Oh
=, rodnoinp the numbers Of these
birds as to make it impossible for
the survivors to do the work nature
intended them to do. The notaole
increase of noxious rodents in the
last decade in certain parts OF the
United States and the resulting dam
age to crops without doubt are due
in no small part to the destruction OF
their natural enemies, CHIEF or Whlch
are the birds of prey.
CATARRH is CURABLE. s.