The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1913-05-30

give the federal government jurisdlc-
ton over a matter which, some claim
should rest entirely with the individu
al States. A number Of decisions Of
different courts are to the effect that
the migratory and wild game birds
belong to the whole nation and not to
the citizens of any State through
which they may chance to pass, and
it is these decisions which constitute
the recognized authority for the new
bill.
The enforcement of this new bill is
to be brought about by the appoint
ment of Deputy United States mar
shals to do the work Already hum
dreds of thousands of dollars are be-
ing paid out by the different States for
the support of these game wardens,
and the federal marshal could go
with them for the good of the game
interests of the country. The sum Of
$4,000 has been appropriated as a
beginning for this new protective
work
Canada is sjoining with this nation
in the endeavor to secure protection
for migratory birds, since many of
the birds which add to the resources
of that country come to the south
ern States for the winter and their
slaughter during migrations material
ly has effected the Canadian bird sup
ply. 1t is believed that the passage Of
the Mclean bill will be easily the
forerunner of a movement to secure
international protection for all migra-
tory birds, and it is hoped that the
movement soon will extend so as to
include both Central and South Amer
ica
America has fallen pathetically be-
hind Europe in this respect. AS far
back as 1870 Europe was threatened
with the extinction Of a number Of
species of migratory birds so that, in
1873, a congress of agriculturalists
and foresters was called in Vienna.
This convention passed a resolution
requesting the imperial Austrian gov
ernment to secure the protection of
birds by means of treaties with other
countries of Europe. In 1875 Germany
Austria, and Italy entered into joint
agreement for the protection of birds.
Since that time four ornithological
congresses have been held in Europe,
and there is now in existence an in
ternational agreement consisting of
eleven articles forming a code for the
protection of birds, which has been
ratified by eleven European powers.
From practical as we'll as an aes-
the.ic and humane standpoint the pro-
lection of birds is important for the
benefit of the nation. Most people
have no idea of the protection birds
give to the crops Of the country. There
is an annual loss of $S0O,0OO,OOO in the
United States from pestivorous in
sects, and this loss has been steadily
increasing in proportion to the de-
crease of the birds, most of which
fed upon them. The United States
biological survey has had the stom-
achs of more than 500 birds examin-
ed. Thirty grasshoppers and 250 cat
erpillars were found in the stomachs
of a cuckoo. In that of night-hawk
were found fifty grasshoppers, and in
another more than 500 mosquitoes.
Seventy canker worms were found in
the crop of a cedar bird Mr.. Tread
well, of the Boston society of Natural
History, fed a young robin sixty-eight
angle wormes in a single day and a
Canadian scientist reports a robin
which consumed sixty-eight cut worms
in the same period. According to
careful estimates the insect feeding
birds of Massachusetts last year con-