The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1908-11-17
SOME COMMON BIRDS
THAT ARE GOOD FRIENDS TG
THE FARMER.
Because They Destroy Great Guam
titles of Weed Seeds and Millions
of Insects Each Year.

| ClGlCS OF heeu SeeUS auu Muloit'
of Insects Each Year.
The general function of birds
1e.ms to be, insofar as natures plan
10 Ineligible, that Of keeping insects
in check-not in destroying insects
utterly, for this would work iucal-
culable harm to the rest of creation.
1t is highly probable that, were 1t
not cor the work Of insects, vegeta-
tian would become so rank and lux
uriant as to menace the world
Birds, the mighty aerial police of
the Creator, sweep over continents
in their migraEons and search every
corner for, the natural food. This
keeps rigorous check on the spreal
of insects. But even with all this
keen oversight sometimes insects
i break out of bounds and begin 70
create havoc and to spread ruin over
the land.
This happened with the Rocky
Mountain locust in its outbreak OF
1877, when Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa
part of Missouri and Indian Territory
were swept bare of vegetation, caus-
ing famine to people and death to
cattle, entailing loss to these States
which was estimated at two hundred
million dollars.
When such a thing as this hap
pens nature seems to ring in gen.
eral alarm and the reserves are
called in to meet the crisis. How
this is done and with what effective
ness is one Of the marvels Of nature.
Birds, not known or counted as in
sect destroyerS, such as gullS and
other birds, as we'll as the hawks
and owls-the rear guard of natures
mighty host-rush to the feast and
insects are devoured by the millions
This has never failed to restore the
balance.
The Common Birds.
. In this connection let us examine
a few Of the common birds Of South
Carolina to see what use they have
and what relation they bear to the
economic life of the State They
may be described as they are usually
seen. Many more are valuable, bu:
it will not do to make The list too
large. They are put down cate
gorically.
The Wren-A great insect feeder.
all varieties Of wrens are. These
birds become quite tame with good
treatment.
Bluebird-At some seasons Of the
year a bluebird will eat more thar
his weight in cutworms each day
Bluebirds are entirely harmless and
If they have suitable nesting places
made for them. They destroy many
other insects besides cutworms, espe-
cially grasshoppers and crickets, both
very destructive insects.
Yellow-Hammar (Flicker or gold
en- winged wood-pecker)- )-This is
an anteater Of renown. The bird
has tongue highly developed for
the purpose Of licking up ants. Ii
ants spread beyond bounds they be-
come great pest and menace to
man and beast.
King-Bird Gee Martin )-king-
birds SPEND their time catching in
sects, although in some cases they
have caught a few bees. It is said
they eat ONLY drones. so that no harm
is done in this way The bird takes
almost no otnnr food than insects.
Por-wess and phoebns are smaller
varieties Of the sane bird, with the
same general habits.
Cat-Bird-One of the most va'u-
able of the birds around the yard and
garden. These birds eat some fruit
especially grapes, but this may he
avoided by acking the grapes. Witch
this exception they are invaluable
Rain CroWs-Great destroyers OF
all kinds. The spines from the cater.
pillars pierce the birds stomach, so
that the outside of cockoo's stom-
ach resembles brush, covered with
hair. CuckOos also break into the
web Of the tent caterpillar, a great
orchard pest. Few birds eat hairy
cattcrpillarS, so InaL InlS habit Of
the cuckoos is an extremely valu-
able one.
WoOdpeckers-All varieties of
woodpeckers are valuable to trees
except one species which is accused
of sucking the sap and thus weaken
ing the vitality Of the trees. Taere
are % varieties known in North
America, according to Chapman. The
greatest of these .are the p!eatel
woodpecker of South Carolina and
adjoining States, and the ivOry-bill.
now found only in Florida and Louis
lana.
The Field Lark-This bird is ar
insect feeder to the extent Of three
fou:ths of its food. The only grain
eaten is during the winter months,
when, owing to the scarcity OF in
sect food, some loose grain is picked
IN on the surface OF the ground.
Having no crop or gizzard, the lark
IS formed by natrue for insect eat
IA ~ and roulJ NOT 1.-Two on ornin any