Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1915-04-06
IN DEFENSE OF THE BUzzARD
Some People Who Think, Say He 10
Useful to Man.

Some People Who Think, Say He 10
Useful to Man.
The United States department of
agriculture comes to the defense of
the buzzard. Some Of the facts given
in the memorandum Of the biological
survey printed on our agricultural
page today, are strong evidence that
the ugly, but useful bird Is not guilty
Of disseminating animal diseases. If
the germ Of anthrax cannot pass
through the digestive organs Of this
carrion eater without being destroy
ed, it is not likely that 1t could dis
seminate hog cholera or any other
animal disease. In the strong diges-
ton Of that bird, it seems nothing
seem that nature in equipping the buzz
zard for its work Of cleaning the face
Of the earth Of animal matter that
might cause disease, had made that
equipment thorough.
1t is never safe to destroy the bal
ance Of nature. Millions Of small birds
are destroyed annually by sportsmen
and the consequence is that their nat
ural prey, the insect tribes, are in
creasing at a rate which necessitates
constantly increasing vigilance on the
part Of the gardener and the farmer.
If all the birds were destroyed and ey-
cry green thing on the face OF the
earth would probably be eaten up in
the course Of very few years. Fred,
erick the Great ordered every small
bird in his kingdom destroyed, 1t Is
said, in a pet because some sparrows
had eaten a few Of his cherries, with
the result that two years or so after
ward there were no cherries to speak
Of in his dominions, but an overwhelm-
ing outbreak Of insects instead.
Insects multiply at an astonishing
rate and have enormous appetites.
The birds do not multiuly so rapidly,
but can destroy many hundreds Of In
sects each per day, especially when
feeding their nestlings. Rats breed
very fast and destroy many millions
of dollars worth Of property annually
in the United States as well as In 9TH
er countries. Every hawk or owl kill
ed is a longer lease Of life and the
privilege Of procreation to scores Of
rats. The hunter is the enemy Of the
farmer, who sometimes ignorantly
Joins the ranks Of the bird slayers for
day or so.
The buzzard does not prey upon in
sects or live rats but makes the earth
more habitable to other creatures
There are other facts known to keen
observers besides those mentioned in
the paper referred to above which
serve to show that the buzzard is
guiltless of spreading disease among
animals by feeding on the carcases OF
the victims of germ maladies. Until
men learn to burn or bury all such
carcases there will be need for the
buzzard, and even then his usefulness
will not have altogether departed. 1t
Is possible that his determination will
result in increase in the number OF
cases of anthrax and the like diseas-
es.
The question Of the determination
of this useful bird will come before
the next legislature and it will be
supported by those who feel that 1t Is
their mission to correct the mistakes
Of nature. 1t has been before the body
at least once in the past. Convincing
argument that he was not and Is not
guilty Of the indictment brought
against him, was offered then and re-
suited in the defeat Of the measure.
We hope that the same fate may meet
this second attempt.-Florida Times
Union.