Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1909-04-21

many eat practically nothing else, it il
their insect eating habits that chiefly in
vite inquiry, for so active and persistent
are birds in the pursuit OF insects that
they constitute their most important enc
mics.
When birds are permitted to labor un-
disturbed they thoroughly police both
earth and air. The thrushes, sparrows,
larks and wrens search the surface OF the
earth for insects and their Larvae or hunt
among the leaves and peer under logs and
refuse for them. The warblers, vireos,
creepers and nuthatches, with their mi
croscopic eyes, scan every part OF the tree
or shrub rrunk, branches and leaves
and few hidden creatures escape them.
The woodpeckers, not content with
carefully scrutinizing the bark and limbs
OF trees, dig into decayed and worm-eaten
wood and drag forth the burrowing Larvae
which in their hidden retreats are safe
from other enemies. The fiycatchers, aided
by the warblers, are ever on the alert to
snap up insects when flying among trees
and branches, while the swallows and
nighthawks skim over the pastures and
/ patrol the air high above the tree tops for
sueh OF the enemy as have escaped pursuit
below.
Thus each family plays its part in the
neVer-ending warfare, and the number OF
insects annually consumed by the COM
oihea hosts IS simply incalcusable. 1t is
| well that this is So tor 40 vast ia the num-
Der OF insects and so great is the quantity
OF vegetation required Tor their subsistence
that the existence OF every green thing
would be threatened were it not for birds
and other agents specially designed to
keep them IN check.
Whiie birds are not numerous in the
sense that insects are, they exist in fair
lor the interference OF man and 80 rapid
| Is the olgestion OF oirds and SO perfect
their assimilative powers that, to satisfy
the appetite OF even a small bird, great
numbers OF insects are needed. Much OF
TINS iooo IS hidden and must be searched
tor; mucn OF II Is active and must be
vigorously pursued. Hence birds should
| - AOs OASy ~
farmers, but BY all classes OF our people.
how thoughtless is the farmer who roundly
ABUSES the crow for pulling up a few nils
OF corn, or who permits his young son to
go out and shoot an owl or hawk. These
BIRDS are among the best friends that the
farmer has, and their destruction should be
looked upon almost as criminal offence.
| WnnHnarkera alr ol,,o lo IN
destroying the bark boring insects. Their
chisel-hke beaks, driven by strong muscles,
make effective tools with which to dig out
the Larvae OF burrowing insects, and these
birds should be carefully protected.
| Standing high in their usefulness is the
group OF birds known as the warblers.
America Is peculiarly fortunate in possess
LII ~. 49, >,
exceiled bv none in grace of form,
sprightly motion, and beauty of plumap.
The family is large and numbers 10 the
. snecies ipcluded in IL visit everv nar, n,
our domain at some season or other
( While some live on or near the ground
and share with the thrushes the task al
hunting for ground freoueutine insects
the great majority haunt the trees and
shrubpery, and spend their time cleaning
an insect harvest from foliage and twips
Eggs, Iarya, and adult insects alike are
welcome, and when fiying insects are dis.
lodged from their hiding places. the war.
biers successfully essay the role Of fiy.
catchers and snap them up on the wing
No insects are too minute to escape thei,
prying eyes, and they are PARTICULAR,
successful in discovering ana devourinp
plant lice. immense numbers of which in.
fes. our fruit and shade trees. Finally
it NAV be said of the warblers that they
are truly iussctiyorous. "a thew eat YER,
little vegetable food. and the little ther
do eat has no special economic value
'o"E Bird FRIENDS
The thrushes and their near allies, the