The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-03-05
PRATT TELLS OF
 VALUE OF BIRDS
President of National Associa- ton of Burroughs Nature Clubs Delivers Lee
 tllre Here.

Albert H. Pratt, president of the National Association of the Burroughs Nature Clubs gave interesting and instructive illustrated talk on Value of the Birds to. Man yesterday after noon before the Bridgeport Art League. :. MT. Pratt Is a close friend and co-worizer with John Burroughs, the eminent and widely read natural ist and writer.
 At present there is no local repre- sentation of the Burroughs Club but MT. Pratt Is much interested in the Mature Study Circle which Is soon to be organized within the Art League. This circle will follow the lines of study of the Burroughs Club and later, it is hoped, will become affiliated with the National Organization of that so- ciety.
 John Burroughs who is now in his 7Tth year is honorary president of this organization which has a large mem bership, some 10000 throughout the Uni6ed States and Canada
 A brief glance into the life and methods of writing of the beloved naturalist, Illustrated by stereopticon views of his different homes. and of Burroughs in several poses. was given by the speaker.
 We are beginning to realize, more and more said MT. PIatt, that the statement made some years ago by a
  would disappear from this earth with in seven years Is not as absurd as it sounds. but approaches very near to the truth
 Birds are of practical value and necessity and are closely associated with our own comfort and happiness. When this country was g. wilderness it had its own wild life which was governed by the natural law which held each in check. This law was nefthea- beneficial nor injurious but worked for the good of all and for the survival of the fttest-
 tsThe land was peopIed. Farmers found that the birds ate their crops and accordingly destroyed the birds Since then they have been trying all known methods, in vain. to destroy the insects and rodents which have been inJurtny their crops. Birds since they complete natures halauce are the only things which will keep the in4 secfss in eh eek. We were appalled, be- cause the San Franciscan earthquake ] meant loss of $40e,000.000 to this country, yet every year we lose twice as much, $8eo, ,800, ,00o through the de- strlctfon of the crops and forests by the insects.
 .sIt is our duty to help the farmer for what affects the agricultural in terezts Of our county. affects also our selves and our prosperity. a There are three pek5bS WlIHiz " IAae1hi the farmer must contend, insects. weeds and rodents. There are also three species of birds provided for the destruction of these pests A number of stereopdcon views or these birds were shown which the Iec- turer. explained, telling the amount of insects and weeds, seeds and mics and rats which each class devours.
 @,The trouble with the farmers IS that they do not realize, when they eee d bird eating their cherries or otT1er fruit that the birds do this chief- Iy to assuage their thirst and that IT they would only provide places where birds might obtain water and plant |nerhaps, Russian mulberry bush or some wild cherries in their orcnaTus which would ripen at the same time fer the wild to the cultivated fruits, he would have perfect crops untouch- ed by either birds or insects.
 s~The value of cats as the destroyers Of mice and rats has been greatly over estimated. A pair of owls has been known to bring 40 mice and rats to their young in one hour. There is soon to come up before our own leg islature, a bill providing for the li- |censing of cats just as dogs are now licensed. This will do away with the great number of stray cats which do so much damage by killing the birds and who endanger our lives by car ryins disease germs. MT. Pratt said that he hoped that in time Bridge port might become a bird sanctuary as already several places in this coun- try are