The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-14

tiles, he and his works would be of little
 avail before an attack of insects. which
 include greater number of species than all other living creatures combined Some
 3ooOoO species have been described. while possibly twice that number still remain
 unknown.
 The author says that these incomput- able hordes feed on nearly all living animals and practically all plants and multiply into prodigious numbers in an
 incredibly short time. Computations
 show that one species developing IS gen erations year would, if unchecked to
 the twelfth generation, multiply to 10 sex tiilons of individuals; while a single pair or the well-known gypsy moths if un- checked, would produce in eight years enough progeny to destroy all the foliage of the United States. One pair of po- tato bugs, he states, would develop un- checked J60,0o0,0oo in a single season at
 wn1ch rate of multiplication the potato p'ant would not long survive
 According to Mir. Buckland's article in- sects are quite as astounding in their consuming qualities as in their rate of increase; caterpillar eats twice it's weight in leaves day, and, in propor- ton, horse would consume a ton of
 hay in 24 hours Certain fiesh-eatinr larvae consume POO times their original weight in "A hours; in this manner an Infant would devour 1500 pounds of meat during the first day of its life It is reported by a specialist that the food taken by silk worm in 56 days equals so,ooo times its original weight. All of Which facts show what tremendous de- struction insects may cause
 Ihroush It's predominating insect diet, ana on accounts of its exceedingly rapid digestion, the bird becomes the most in- dispensable balancing force of nature: without its assistance, man, with his poisons. the weather and animals, as we'll as the parasitic predaceous insects would be helpless. The author then states how the bird is benefit to man in a great number of ways! in checking insect in- vasions In preserving forests and orch ards; their service in the meadows and gardens; their value in protecting live stock, and their usefulness in the pre- servation of health and elimination of disease.
 Remarkable instances of the birds serv ice to man include the introduction of the English sparrow into New Zealand With the resulting elimination of the this tie and the caterpillar. which were ruin ing the land and crops, and the saw ing Of Australian agriculture from the grasshoppers by the straw-necked ibis. In individual craws of which an aver age or 24O0 grasshoppers was found. The story Of Frederick the Great wherein he is alleged to have ordered all small birds Killed because the sparrows had pecked at some of his cherries. and the resulting lack of fruit but fine crop of caterpilla rs two years later, proves a graphic lesson The Scalp Act' of Pennsylvania, which paid in bounties $S0.ooo for the extermina- tion of hawks and owls, lost for the state $3,860,0OO in damage to agriculture que to the increase of small rodents which resulted When Montana was free from hawks and owls 1t became so overrun with destructive rodents that the legis- lature offered rewards for them-a task which the banished hawks and owls had performed free of charge. But during the first six months such large sums of money were paid out that a special ses- sion of the legislature was called to re- peal the act before the state went bank rupt In 1912 Lord Kitchener pointed out the necessity of prohibiting the destruc- tion of certain Egyptian birds which prevented insect pests.
 Tn closing MT. Buckland makes a plea for the preservation of all birds as g. valuable natural resource. stating that If their destruction is not checked, there will be wrought a mischief. a universal disaster, greater than words can ex- press.
 Another article on birds contributed by Howard H. Cleaves. reviews the work of the American Bird Banding associa- uon pr. Ales Hrdlicka of the National Museum writes on the most ancient skel- etal remains of man, and Dr. M Hoernes presents an interesting discussion con- corning the earliest forms of human hab- itation and their relation to the general development of civilization. The feudal system in Persia is described by Jacques de Morgan of Paris. while another paper by K. Kanokogl of Tokio discusses the significance of Shintoism. Papers on engi- neering subjects include problems in smoke, f,irpe and dust abatement. by F. G., Cottreil. progress in marine con str,iction by Alexander Oracle. and the construction of the great aqueduct from| 1ha Catsldll MountAins into New York 6at$. by T. Bernard walker and R. Rus coll Bond. 4Tt as.