The Mena weekly star. (Mena, Ark.) 1904-1977, 1911-01-05
Birds Natural Enemies Of Boil wsevil.

bttuS Natut a. AUCutlco VI puH W0CFhs
by Prof II. J. u. pcLoach, University
OF Georgia.
esteem it a privilege to be able to
represent the birds on an occasion
like this. and among business men.
A bird student is usually considered
crank or at least an odd or unusual
person. and to be invited before
body like this TO say a few words in
behalf Of our bird friends is a good
omen. | rejoice to know that you
have recognized the importance of
this part Of the subject, and are will
ling to make public your desires to
have birds discussed in their relation
to the Mexican cotton boil weeyil.
We all admit that birds are always
busy trying to find something to eat.
From early dawn to nishtfall they are
forever in search of food. Once in
awhile we happen to see them get a
morsel OF food useful to man and we
then and there declare war and eter-
nal vengeance on the whole ra ,e of
them, without stopping to think
whether they were not instrumental
in making it possible for us to make
the crop we saw them sample. In
fact, it would be utterly impossible to
raise farm crops without the help Of
birds to keep in check the insects so
destructive to crops. A bird infested
crop is far cleaner and better than in
sect infested crops. and we should
interest ourselves in behalf of these
indispensable creatures. Birds are re-
sponsible for the success of our farm
crops and should be studied seriously,
in order that we may know just how
to induce them to remain about our
premises and live on friendly terms
With us.
You have heard many talks in the
past on the boil weevil, OF his exist
ence and his work. and many
suggestions have been made to you
along the line of improved muthods Of
farming to meet the depredations of
the much-dreaded enemy. / am to
tell you some means by which you will
be able to put up a real fight and de
stroy millions of the weevil.
Thirty-eight species of birds are
known to eat the boil weevil, and as
many as forty-four adult weevils have
been found in the stomach of single
cliff swallow. The swallows, the night
hawk and fiy-catchers catch the wee
vii on the wing during his migration
from cotton field to cotton field, and
the walking and scratching birds,
such as quail, black-birds, meadow
lark. kildee and finches eat him in
late autumn, winter and early spring
while he is on the ground. In fact,
our bird friends are always busy in
the fight and are besides gradually
cultivating a taste for the weevil.
The result is evident. If birds are
protected we are certain to have few
er weevils and less cause for alarm
when he reaches our borders.
What can we doY We can induce
the birds to remain about our prerni-
SEES and to nest on our plantations.
We can put up boxes and other ma
terials for them to build in We can
help be the means of enforcing our
state bird laws. We can be the
means of putting the pot-hunter out
of business. They have no interest
in hunting as a sport, they are in
every way unsportsmanlike and are
killing birds for the almighty dollar.
This will soon exterminate the quail,
bird as useful as any other about
the premises for destroying injurious
insects and noxious weed seeds, and
which would afford sport for the real
hunter forever if properly protected.
The most useful birds in the fight
against the boil weevil are the night
hawks, six species of orioles, the
swallows, including the purple martin,
and the quail and meadow-lark.
Nothing Like Aiming HIGH