The sun., 1916-09-16
THE STARRING DEFENDED.
why the Slaughter at Poughkeepsie
was SenseIess and Cruel.

w NJ tuU CIoUH IuOH ~
Was Senseless and Cruel.
To EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sir.: The
ne wspapers have reported the outrage
Gus destruction of starlings at Pough-
keepsie. under the direction Of Mayor
Daniel W. Wilbur. Al the request OF
some wealthy sluggards, who. on ac-
count Of their nocturnal revsls. had
their morning slumbers disturbed by
the cheerful whistiing Of the birds. The
eagerness with which the local hood
iuins and %pothunters responded to the
call was painful N suggestive.
The startling In Of more value to the
farmer and stock raiser than any other
species. 1t devours army. cut and cab
bage worms and q host Of similar pests.
and from early morn TIL sunset traverses
the fields inspecting thoroughly every
rch Of surface in search Of insects.
The starlings assemble at night In large
numbers and the next day the flock
sets forth In quest Of food. From the
main hock at regular intervals a GER
tain number separate until an extensive
area Ia covered. At night the last party
leads the return. The territory thus
covered and benefited IL very great.
Among the ~annoyances to which cat
tie M sheep are subjected are nies.
lice. ticks and other insects, and these
not only cause disease but 80 greatly
irritate the animals as TO lessen growth
and milk production. The starting will
perch on the back Of a sheep. and. while
the animal grazes along contentediy,
will search in the WOO inc hun put
and consume any vermin that may in
fest IL. Great torment to cattle and
horses Is caused by biting flies and mos
q~uitoes. A large flock Of starlings will
frequent the herds and remain at the
heels Of the animals picking of the
files. &C. that poster them and affording
infinite relief. 1t Is we'll termed the
bird Of the pasture and the defender OF
the hocks.
The service to agriculture which the
mock ruthlessly n ig%norantly de-
stroycd has rendered over a vast area
around P~oughkeepsie Ia impossible to
reckon. II In marvellous to observe at
nesting time with what rapidly the
parents capture erubs and hoppers and
carry them to their young. The swift
and graceful flight Of the bird enables
II easily to overtake. fercely attack and
repel any hawk. crow or owl that VEN
lures near. Its melodious whistle In far
from unpleasant and much more enjoy.
able than that OF the crow. blue Jay.
catbird. robin Generality and other
birde. Instead OF cruelty and merci-
lessiy Strengthening these valuable aids
to agriculture. bird houses should have
been erected for them In the centre OF
some park. where they would nave as
sisted in preserving the vegetation. or
In some other more Isolated locality.
where they could have continued their
two robins were killed by mistake. for
which the offender vas deprived OF his
license and subjected to prosecution be-
cause the robin happens to he upon the
protected list. As n matter Of fact. one
startling will destroy more injurious in
sccts than 100 robins. and one robin
will destroy more beneficial insects and
fruit han 100 starlings.
Every BIRD should &c protected. ana
IL At times by reason OF increase Of
numbers some must be driven away or
slain II should be done by the authority
Of the conservation commissioner after
INVESTIGATION by and under the SUPER
vision OF a game warden. This defect
in the Law which permits unlicensed.
ignorant. irresponsible and prejudiced
persons to destroy some birds opens the
door for the destruction OF those pro-
tected.
ON the upper east side ~ Manhattan
because n flock OF sparrows chirped in
the trees in the vicinity application was
at once made TO n former Park Commis-
sioner 10 have them all poisoned. He
was only too willing. but failed because
he could not ascertain how to accomplish
II. The sparrow Is highly beneficial az
a scavenger and destroyer OF noxious
insects. and is particularly adapted to
city life as few other birds are. This
spring In Montclair IA starting hater al
most induced the conservation commits.
sioner to destroy a flock OF these birds
merely on account Of their singing. I
trust that the application failed on my
request. No consideration whatever
should be given to the complaints Of
persons who would change the whole
course Of nature to suit their temporary
whims and prejudices. Such persons
should be relegated to a dcser, and COM.
PEELED TO remain there.
trust that my suggestion for better
bird protection as above may he adoptcd
in every state, 80 that we shall have no
more Of these shameful and pitiful
repetitions Of bird destruction. and thus
prevent the further impairment Of our
diminishing wild life.
ARCHIBALD {. WEEKS.
Librarian Brooklyn EntomologicaI So.
ciety.