The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-09-05


 birds and the increase in the activities Of man. No fruit trees would be trou- bled by insects if the song bird was let alone.
 Birds are deadliest foes yet found to the boil weevils the gipsy and browi, tail moth, and other like pests. 1t Is said the yearly value of meadow lark or quail in a 10-acre field of cotton corn or wheat is reckoned by experts a5 s5.
 From a speech on the "Protection of Birds by Hon. George P. Mclean of Connecticut before the United States Senate, we quote:
 We have In this country today about 2o,0e0,0O0 school children, and the cost of their education has become by far the heaviest tax laid upon the surplus or the country, yet it costs more by many millions to feed our insects than 1t does to educate our children. If there is any way in which this vast and destructive tax upon the national income can be prevented or stayed or | resisted in any appreciable measure ii would seem to be the part of wisdom to act without delay.
 For many years individuals at their own expense. and voluntary societies and representatives of the civilized ma tions the world over have studied and estimated the value of birds to the human race. We call attention at this tune to but few of the estimates made, and such as seen to be fair and reliable, but enough, we think. to prove that in this country at least we have ruthlessly disturbed if not de- stroyed, one of natures wisest and most valuable balances between the birds and theeir natural food, and it is clear to those informed upon this sub Jeet that unless radical and immediate @ measures are adopted to restore a sure. safe and natural equilibrium between insectivorous birds and their foods the tune will soon come when the annual loss caused by insects to agriculture "a this country alone will be counted In billions instead of millions of dol lars"
 With these facts In mind we cannot but see the stupendous necessity Of saving our feathered friend.
 The following excerpt from the re- port of John II. Wallace is charming statement of the necessity of the con- servation of the Alabama birds:
 Those who love Alabama, who slorify her splendid history. who de- light in her imperishable traditions. and who take pride in her boundless natural resources. are eager to pre- serve and protect all that combine to fashion our magnificent state
 "The principal vocation of our brave and patriotic people Is agriculture, which is one of the most ancient and honorable arts known to man Upon the yield of our fields depends the happiness and prosperity of our citi- aens. When there are abundant crops of fleecy cotton and our gamers are full of golden grain, the anthems of contentment and the cadences of Joy resound throughout our realms. and all nrlI played by happy hearts.
 We are assisted in making good crops by an army of feathered friends that work for the husbandman without pay. The part that birds play in pro- tecting farmers from the ravages of injurious insects that prey upon the c"ops and orchards would be well un- derstood If all he bright colored, harmless songsters of the trees should be extermnated. Without birds, our fair state would soon become not only nonproductiye, but absolutely uninhab- ilable.
 "Cruel men and wanton boys some times shoot for sport mans feath cred allies. It would be cheaper if the rifle that discharged the shot were lcaded with golden bullet and fired into the sea. Boys were erstwhile all lowed to catch and sell young mock ing birds and red birds for 90 cents each. The state Is made at least $100 poorer by the act. It would be more economical in the end to give away a golden bird of the same weight. The meadow lark or each one of bevy of quail in 10-acre wheat, corn or cot ton field each earns s5 in a single sea- son as an insect destroyer
 Every precaution is taken by us to prevent a thief from stealing even the most trifling of our possessions. but we are oblivious of any effort 10 dis suade the gunner from shooting birds upon whose existence depends our very livelihood.
 sess to save our friends, the birds from destruction; if we do this. soon every bush will contain a singer, and every tree a choir