The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1908-09-03
PLEA FOR THE BIRDS.
Why A. H. Howell Urges That
They Be Saved.
MANY KILL BOIL wEEWLs.

Biological 9urvsy Expert Tells Of IN
South's Need Of TRANSPORTATION q
Cotton Industry the Keynote Of tn
Warning From Washington.
Protection for the birds OF the Unit
ed States is being urged by the biolog
Teal survey of the department Of agri
culture. The economic Importance Of
Euch protection to the cotton industry
Is pointed out In a recent circular pre-
pared by Arthur II. Howell, assistant
In the biological survey. who has In
recent months made \ minute study Of
the extent to which the boil weevil II
destroyed by birds.
Something over a year ago the bio
logical survey took this matter up and
sent out literature urging bird protec-
ton. IL was pointed out that the resi-
dents In the northern states could do q
great service to the south by seeing to
Ii that the birds that nest In the north
and go TO he 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 hight
OF more recent Investigations showing
that the boil weevil Is destroyed by
birds to u greater extent than wAs at
first realized, another plea for the pro-
lection OF the birds is being put forth.
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 Louisiana produced In 1905
more than 5000, 900 bales Of cotton,
valued at upward of 1916, 000,0 900. The
loss caused by the boil weevil Is va
riously estimated at from 10 to SO per
cent Of the crop, or even more in bad
ly infested areas. Even at the low
est reasonable estimate the loss to
the cotton planters of Texas and Lou
Islam from the ravages of the pest
yearly aggregates many millions. As
the weevil extends Its range eastward
Into the more humid regions Of the
lower Mississippi valley. the damage
II does Will be proportionately greater
than In the drier regions to the west
ward.
Investigations conducted by the bio
survey on the food habits Of
birds In Louisiana In January and
1908, showed that more
We're feeding upon the weeylls
and that many more weevils were de-
by them than In any of the
western localities where birds have
been collected at a corresponding sea.
son. The destruction of weeyils In
Is much more important than
N summer, since the death OF every
Seevil at that season prevents the pro-
OF a highly numerous progeny
n the early summer and postpones the
late when the Increase will become so
great as to destroy the cotton squares
IS fast as they appear.
THE service rendered by the vast
Irmy of birds which occupies the cot
Oh DiuliuliOlS vi tAC 6Oobh nokih8
he winter months" says Mr.. Howell,
Is only beginning TO be appreciated.
During the first season In which birds
we're studied In their relation to the
seevil only twenty species were dis
to feed upon the insect, and
t was supposed the influence Of birds
n keeping down the pest was slight.
.ater Investigations, however, carried
n during several years and at all sea-
ons have shown that no less than
lfty-three species OF native birds feed
pom the pest, many OF them destroy
az large numbers OF weevils during
he most critical period Of the insects I
fe-winter and early spring. \
Various kinds OF blackbirds, mead
larks, sparrows, pipits or titlarks,
and titmice are mentioned AZ
In the destruction Of the boil
'eevll, and many other well known
lrds, such as the oriole. the swallow
nd the mockingbird, are in the list
[ those that feed upon the pest Of
lie cotton regions.