Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-05-20
Miseellaneulls 8sading.
PROTECTION OF BIRDS
Recent Tests Show They are Great
Insect Destroyers.

Insect Destroyers.
Early in April the department o.
agriculture had ready for distribution
a new bulletin upon birds that will
have an important bearing upon tn,
much discussed Mclean bird protec
tion bill, which was finally included
In the bill making the appropriation!
J for the department Of agriculture and
as such, approved on March 4, ant
signed by President Taft as one Of hi
last official acts. The bulletin will b,
profusely illustrated, picturing wilt
geese, wild swans. snipe, plover
woodcock, wild pigeons, brant, ant
other migratory and insectivorou.
birds which henceforth are to receive
protection from the Federal govern.
ment under regulations to be formu.
lated by the department of agriculture
The bill proposed by Senator Nc
Lean, Of Connecticut, together with
those presented to the house by Rep
sentatives Weeks, Of Massachusetts
and Anthony, Of Kansas, Is based upon
the fact that the lack Of uniform bird
protective legislation throughout the
country is responsible for the threat
ened extinction Of many species OF
birds that make migratory passages
north and south each year. 1t is OF
no use for one state to pass protective
laws so long as in another state, pos
sibly even during the mating and
Matching season, there is no law pro-
tecting that same bird. The passing OF
a Federal law upon this subject was
opposed by many who consider 1t an
infringement upon states rights to
give the Federal government jurisdic-
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
1t 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 hun
dreds Of thousands Of dollars are being
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 inter-
ests of the country. The sum Of $10,-
900 has been appropriated as begin
ming for this new protective work
Canada is joining 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 southern
states for the winter and their
slaughter during migrations material
ly has effected the Canadian bird sup
ply. It 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 1t 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
1878, a congress Of agriculturalists
and foresters was called in Vienna.
This convention passed a resolution
request ng 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 a 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 code for the
protection Of birds, which has been
ratified by eleven European powers.
From a practical as we'll as an aes-
thetic 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 $500, 100000 In the
United States from pestivorous in
sects, and this los 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 $50 cat
erpillars were found in the stomach
Of a cuckoo. In that of a night-hawk
were found fifty grasshoppers, and in
another more than 500 mosquitoes.
Seventy canker worms were found in
the crop of cedar bird. Mr.. Tread
we'll, Of the Boston Society of Natural
History, fed young robin iXty-eight
angle worms 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-
sumed over $1,000 bushels of insects
from May 1 to September 30 Yet the
damage done by insects to the crops
Of that state went to $5,000,O00.
Thirty species of shore birds eat
noxious weeds, as well as insects, and
at least $50 of the insect eating birds
Of the country have been classed as
game in both the northern and south :
ern states. Even the robin Is legally
protected in seven states, in Virginia
a petition signed by 100000 school
children secured the protection Of the
robin in that tsate by a special act
of legislature passed last year. In five
states the blackbird has been a legal
game bird also.
The friends of the birds have spared
no pains to investigate such birds as
have been charged with being enemies