The Honesdale citizen. [volume] (Honesdale, Pa.) 1873-1908, 1908-07-16
PLEA FOR THE BIRDS.
Why A. H. Howell Urges That
They Be Saved.
MANY KILL BOIL WEEvILS.

slo,oeiesi Survey Expert Tells Of The
seutF,'s Need ef Then-Preteetion 70
cettan Industry the Keynote Of the
Warning From Washington.
Protection for tic iris Cf the Unit
ed States Is Icing urged ly .le hiolog
icnl survor Of the depa.tL cnt of agri-
culture. The economic importance Of
such protection to the cotton industry
is pointed cut iu a recent circular pre-
pared by Arthur IL. Howell, assistant
In the biological survey, who has In
recent months made minute study OF
the extent 10 which the boil weevil Is
destroyed-by birds.
Something over year ago the bio
logical survey took this matter up and
sent out literature urging bird protec-
tion. II was pointed out that the resi-
dents IN the northern states could do a
great service to the south by seeing TO
It that the birds that nest In the north
ern ATTITUDES In sIrring and summer
md go to the south In winter were
shielded from destruction The inter
est awakened in this matter was great.
and there was eager response from
farmers, school children and others
Now. says the Washington correspond
ent Of the New York Globe. In the light
OF more recent Investigations showing
that the boil weevn Ia destroyed by
birds 10 greater extent than was at
frst realized, another plea for the pro-
farftny, Of l,a trla te
The region now Infested by the cot
ton boil weevil includes the greater
part Of the cotton growing area Of
Texas and Louisiana and parts OF Ok
lahoma, ARKANSAS and Mississippi.
Texas and Loul iaua produced In 1906
more than 5.opO.Ooo bales OF cotton.
valued M upward OF S27Go00,ooO. The
loss caused 10y the boil weevil is va
riously estimnted nt from 10 TO 10 per
cent of the crop, or even more In had
ly infested areas. Even at the low
est reasonable estimate the loss TO
the cotton planters of Texas and Lou
isiana from the ravages OF the pest
yearly aggregates many millions. As
the weevil extends its range eastward
into the more humid regions of the
lOWtT Nhhes, Inc
II does Will be proportionately greater
than In the drier regions to the west
ward.
Investigations conducted by the bio
logical survey on the food habits OF
birds IN Louisiana In January and
February, 1908, showed that more
birds were feeding upon the weevils
and that many more weevils were de-
stroyed By them than in any Of the
western localities where birds have
been collected at n corresponding sea
son. The destruction OF weevils in
winter is much more important than
IN summer. since the death OF every
weevil at that season prevents the pro
duction OF a highly numerous progeny
In the early RUNNER and postpones the
date when IL Increase will become so
great as to t roy the cotton squares
as fast US they appear.
'Ihe service rendered by the vast
army Of birds which occupies the cot
ton plantations Of the south during
the winter months" says Mr.. Howell
'is only beginning to be appreciated.
During the first season In which birds
were studied in their relation to the
weevil only twenty species were dis
covered to feed upon the insect, and
it was supposed the influence OF birds
In keeping down the pest was slight.
Later Investigations, however. carried
on during several years and at all sea
sons have shown that no less than
Hfty-three species Of native birds feed
upon the pest, many Of them destroy
ing large numbers Of weevils during
the most critical period Of the insects
life-winter and early spring.
| Various kinds Of blackbirds. mead
ow larks, sparows, pipits or titlarks.
wrens and titmiee are mentioned as
useful in the destruction OF the boil
weevil, and many other well known
birds, such as the oriole, the swallow
and the mockingbird. are in the list
Of those that feed upon the pest OF
the cotton regions.