The Devils Lake world., 1911-01-27

idASCAy mduo up VI SeeuS OF injurious
weeds. The nighthawk, which is al
rlost exclusively insectivorous, and u.s.
tally supposed to feed on insects which
fly above the ground, has been shown
to feed on grasshoppers, as many as
sixty being found in single stomach.
A single stomach of the yellow-billed
cuckoo has been found to contain 217
fall webworms, and another $50 Amer
lean tent caterpilalrs. Two flickers
were each found to eaten 5000 and the
third 5000.
DIR. S. D. Judd has called attention
to the quantities of insects captured
hy birds to feed their young. In the
ease of the kingbird one-half the
stomach contents of fourteen nestlings
consisted of crickets and grasshop.
pers In feeding brood of three
young wrens about three-fourth
grown, the, mother was observed to
make 40 visits to the nestlings, car
rying 17S insects and spiders, among
them being IA grasshoppers, 80 May
flies, "a caterpillars, and Is spiders.
"Even more striking examples may
he found in the case of some of the
seed eating birds. From study of the
tree sparrow made some years ago in
in Iowa, Professor Bcal estimated that
the quantity of seed destroyed by these
nd %hn %o+o ~,
amounted to 875 tons. In examining
the stomachs of doves he found one
containing $500 seeds of the yellow
wood sorrel (oxalis stricta) and anoth-
er 1920 miscellaneous seeds, chiefly
weeds. The total quantity of weed
seeds destroyed by such birds as these
in the course Of season is almost be-
yond computation. Under modern game
laws complete protection throughout
the year is extended to the. non game
birds. In the case Of the dove, how.
ever, which is often considered game
bird, an open season for hunting is
provided in few states, although the
tendency is to remove it from the game
list on account of it's Importance as 8
weed destroyer" !"
Surely with such testimony on be
: half Of the insectivorous and weed
, eating birds the citizens of North Da
) kota should take a live interest il
< the laws which protect them and should
f,,r la s,, oil +,
multiply by destroying the natura
checks to increase.
Value of Game on the Farm.
Again quoting DR.. T. S. Palmer, O.
the bureau of game preservation:
''That the game on the farm has
money value is not always recognized
or, if so, seldom receives due considera
ton. Rabbits, quail, grouse, and othe
game taken during the open seaso
afford not only an important addition
to the table, but may save considerabl
expenditure for other meat. The valu
of the game, therefore, is not merel
the small amount it would bring i
cash or in provisions at the countr
store, but rather what it saves in tn
cost of other meats; and it is greatl
to the advantage of the land owner
utilize the game upon his own tabl
instead of disposing Of it at the store
1t is true that without game laws
small number Of rabbits, quail or othe
resident game might be retained on
farm of sufficient extent. But o
many farms the stock would soon b
depleted, and in the case Of migrator
games adequate protection both nortl
ward and southwark is necessary
secure birds in abundance, and this pr
lection can be had only through tn
medium of state laws. -
:. Problem of Saving the Deer.
= If North Dakota is to preserve
future generations the members {
the deer family that now remain witt
in it's territory, there must be proml
action on the part of the state and G.
- opeartion in the fullest sense on tt
part of the individual There are Sc
eral courses open which give promi:
of solving the problem. We belieN
that the ultimate solution Of the pro-
blem of increasing and protecting tt
= deer and antelope fthe state lies
the idea Of refugees. If certain trac
suited to the purpose were set apa
for the purpose and no hunting permi
ted therein, these animals. would il
crease to an extent that would sol1
the question, because the increa'
would overflow from the protected r
ion and stock the adjacent territor
That this is true is indicated from tt
experience with the bands of elk at tt
Yellowstone Park, which have multi
Piled until thousands have scattere
throughout Montana and Wyoming.
The deer in this state are threaten'
= with extinction at an early date unle
something is done to remedy condition
rapidly growing worse. When the r
gion west of the Missouri was sparsel
- settled there was a chance to perm
a short season and still not too great
disturb natures balance, but with tt
rapid settlement Of that region Il
problem is becoming more difficult. ]
- the light of present conditions we al