The Port Gibson reveille., 1908-10-01
QUAIL AND BOIL wEEvIL.

About a year ago there was some
discussion in your paper OF the
quail-boll weevil subject ; and as
the. subject has been opened IN
your paper again, | would like to
venture a few remarks on the sub
ject.
On page 3I8 of year book of the
Dept of Agriculture for I9oo'
there is a list of the eight things
most destructive to the boil weevil,
arranged with regard to the amount
of damage done to the weevil.
And eighth and last of these are
Birds. Now that don't mean
quail at all, but about 20 different
species of birds that the U. S.
government found to eat weevils at
that time.
Then on Aug. 23rd, the Vicks-
burg Hearld published an extaact
from the Woodville Republican,
headed "Partridges Do Not Eat
Boil Weevils," and which said that
out of total OF 22o quail examin-
ed by Government officials only one
weevi1 was found.
On June 10Th, 1908, the Dept.
of Agriculture issued circular
(No. O. on the subject of birds
that eat the boil weevil, which is a
summary of the recent investiga-
tions made by the government. 1t
contains table of the examination
of all the So different species OF
birds found that eat the weevil now.
A total of 3o24 birds.
This table is of one years IN
vestigation and is divided into four
sections of three months, as Jan.
Feb. and Mar. Ist, etc.
This table shows that 2I9 Quail
were examined and only one boo
weevil in them all. Now, no.
where else in this table was SO
many birds of one kind examined
and en- few boll weeyil found.
-Four species of Flycatcher were
examined, 10 birds, with % wee
Wis; three species of Blackbird
316 birds with 81 weevils; II Blue
Jays, with I weevil; Io2 Grackles
with s weeviIs; 7 species of spar
rows, 335 birds with SO weevils;
species of swallows, 92 birds witt
758 weevils; 81 pipits with I24 wee
wills; 90 Wrens with 20 weevils
Meadow Larks (Field Lark 35
with 70 weevils, etc.
The Field Lark was most de
structive of all birds in the winte
months when each weevil destroy
ed means so much to the farmer
In one instance 28 larks had 8
weevils which is a great many a
that season when the weeyil ar
supposed to be in winter quarters
Our little field sparrows are grea
destroyers of the weevil too, i
some instances as many as 7 bein
found in the stomach of a singl
bird. The little pipit had as man
as 10 in one instance. The Wre
destroys good many during th
winter months also, 5 wrens havin
6 weevils among them.
Also the Blackbird does goo
work in the winter.
Now what ought we to learn frol
this table2
The birds to protect, of cours
What are they? The Field Lar
Blackbird, Sparrows, Pipit, Wrel
Swallows, Oriole, Mocking Bir'
Flycatcher, Nighthawk, Blue ia,
and a few others of minor impor
ance.
These investigations were a
made in North Western Louisian
some around Shreveport.
Now, why all this talk about Il
Quail? Whyl Just think, Oh
little swallow would destroy mo
boil weevils in day than all Il
quailinClaiborne County in wee
Now if our officials are anxior
to do something that will be real
damaging to the boil weevil;
them put tax on every dog in t
county, and make every game hu
ter pay a license. And with II
moneyhire game wardenswho shi
watch the country, and see th
the unscrupulous do not kill a
birds except tdose that are kno1
not to be harmful to the weevil.
Did il ever occur to your mi