The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1913-09-27

birds that protect crops Is therefore as
as a knowledge OF the insect
pests that destroy them. Such knowl-
edge is the more important because
the relation OF birds TO mans interests
is extremely complex
Nearly All Useful.
THUS. while II may be said that
most Of our birds are useful, there are
only n few OF them that are always
and everywhere useful and that never
do harm. Insectivorous birds. for In
stance. destroy. along with a vast
number OF harmful insects, some par
asitic and predatory kinds, These lat
ter are among natures most effective
agents for keeping destructive insects
IN check. TO the extent, then, that
birds destroy useful parasitic insects
they are harmful. But taking the year
around the good they do by the de-
struction Of insects Injurious TO mans
interests far outweighs the little harm
they do. Ii may be said. too. that OF
the birds usually classed as noxious
there are very few which do not pos
sess redeeming traits. Thus the crow
is mlscbieyous In spring and sorely
taxes the farmers patience and In
genuity "a prevent him from pulling
up the newly planted corn. Moreover.
the crow destroys the eggs and young
OF useful insectlvorous and game
birds; but. on the other hand, he eats
many insects. especially white Erubs
and cutworms. and destroys many
meadow mice. SO that IN much alto
gether not alb OF the region he inhab-
its the crow must be considered 10 be
more useful than harmful. Most OF
the hawks and owls eyen-birds that
have received SO bad a name that the
farmers boy and the sportsmen are
ever on the alert to kill them-are very
useful because they destroy vast mum
bers OF insects and harmful rodents.
Our Flying Squadron.
Birds occupy a unique position
among the enemies OF insects, since
their powers OF flight enable them at
short notice 10 gather at points where
there are abnormal insect outbreaks.
An unusual abundance OF grasshop-
pers, for instance, in a given locality
soon attracts the birds from a wide
area. and. as a rule. their visits cease
only when there gre no grasshoppers
left. SO also a marked increase In
the number OF small rodents In a CIV
en- neighborhood speedily attracts the
attention OF hawks and owls, which,
by reason OF their voracious appetites,
soon produce a marked d%imlnution OF
the swarming foe.
Some idea OF the money value Of
this group OF birds to the country may
be gained from the statement that the
total value OF the farm products in the
United States in 1910 reached the
amazing sum OF So, $4,000. 600. II We
estimate that the total consumption OF
weed seed by the combined members
OF the sparrow family resulted In q
saving OF only / per cent OF the crops
not n violent assumption-the sun
saved to farmers by these birds II
1910 was $50, 100000.
''The current idea In relation 4
hawks and owls is Thes'
birds are generally classed as thieves
and robbers. whereas a large majority
OF them spend the greater part OF theli
long lives In pursuit OF injurious In
sects and rodents. The hawks wori
by day. the owls chiefly by night. g
the useful activities OF the two classes
are continued practically Throughout
the twenty-four hours. AS many ~
100 g~rasshoppers have been found II
the stomach OF a Swainson's hawk
representing a single meal. and In tn
retreat or a pair OF barn owls hav'
been found more than 5000 skulls, .
per cent OF which were OF mammals
the bulk consisting OF Geld mice, hous'
mice and common rats Nearly bal
n bushel OF the remains OF pocket 20
phers-anlmals which are very destruc
tive in certain parts OF the Unite
States-was found near a nest OF TIT
species.
Protect Birds That Prey.
"The notable Increase OF n~oxious ro