The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-04-06

and a long tongue to still further ex-
plore tho hidden retreats Of insects and
drag forth the concealed enemy, safe
from other foes The creepers. titmice.
warblers, hycatchers, Quails, doves, and
other families have each their own spe-
cial field Of activity. However unlike
they may be in appearance and habits,
all are similar in one respectfully pos
sess q never tagging appetite for in
sects and weed seeds.
Sparrows Are Useful.
Contrary to general belief. one of the
most useful groups of native birds is the
sparrow family. While some of the tribe
wear gray suits Of many hues. most of
them are clad in modest brown tints, and,
as they spend much of the time in grass
and weeds, are commonly overlooked.
Unobtrusive as they are, they lay the
farmer under heavy debt of gratitude
by their food habits, since their chosen
fare consists largely of the seeds of
weeds. The tree sparrow, for instance.
consumes one-fourth ounce of weed seed
per day. On this basis, in a large agri-
cultural State like Iowa, tree sparrows
will eat about SO tons Of weed seeds a
year. Only the farmer, upon whose
shoulders falls the heavy burden of free
what this vast consumption of weed seeds
means in the saving and cost of labor.
Some idea of the money value of this
group of birds may be gained from the
statement that the total value of farm
products in the United States in 1910
reached the amazing sum of $685., 900. 900.
II the total consumption Of weed seed by
the combined members of the sparrow
family resulted in the saving of only l
-l~I
sumption by any means-the sum saved
by these birds in 1910 was $50 go, 900.
The current idea about hawks and owls
Is also wrong These birds are generally
cIassed as thieves and robbers, whereas a
large majority of them are the farmers
friends and spend the greater part of
their long lives In pursuit of injurious in
sects and rodents. The hawks work by
day, the owl chiefly by night, so that
the useful activities of the two classes
are continued practically throughout the
twenty-four hours. AS many as 100 grass
hoppers have been found in the stomach
Of a hawk. representing single meal,
and In the retreat of a pair of barn owls
have been found more than 1900 skulls
of field mice house mice, and common
rats. Nearly half a bus,el of the remains
of pocket gophers-animals which are
very destructive in certain parts of the
United States-was found near a nest of
this species. The notable increase of
noxious rodents during the last few years
in certain parts Of the United States and
the consequent damage to crops are due
in no small part to the decreasing num-
Der of birds Of prey, which formerly de-
stroyed them and aided in keeping down
their numbers. A few hawks are injuri-
Gus. but most of the depreciation on birds
and chickens by hawks are committed by
three species-the Cooper's hawk, the
sharp shinned hawk, and the goshawk.
AS a rule birds do not live very long.
but they live fast. They breathe rap
idly and have a higher temperature and
a more rapid circulation than other ver-
tebrates. This is a fortunate circum-
stance. since to generate the required
force to sustain their active bodies a
| large quantity OF food is necessary. As
a matter of fact, birds have to devote
| most of their waking hours to obtain
ing insects. seeds, berries and other
kinds of food The activity of birds in
the pursuit of insects is still further
stimulated because the young of most
species require great quantities of ami