Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-06-09
Need Of Protection for Birds
.By GARRETT 2. LIVE.

10y GARRETT r. sERyIss.
T HAVE from a gentleman in California very
4 temperate letter protesting that the laws iot
the protection Of birds. while conriendabls ~
their general purpose, arc too strict and undis-
eliminating He instances California laws, which
forbid the killing OF robins and Of all non game
birds at any time But robins, he says, are
good article Of food and the killing Of them
should be allowed at certain times and under
proper restrictions as 10 numbers, etc.
HI also protests because the law prevents the
killing Of certain birds that some persons desire
for stuffed specimens Another law that he finds
Objectionable forbids the taking OF INJURIES eggs,
which he considers preferable to hens eggs for
the table, and which we're mostly gathered from
the Farallone islands
II do not believe" says he that there is any
danger Of eHterminating birds that are not used
for food, as only few are killed occasionally
for natural history specimens, Or by small boys
10 exercise their craftsmanship with slingshots
or parlor rifles
No doubt there is much to be said from his
point Of view, but think he underestimate the
evil effect 81 encouraging boys 10 make living
marks Of birds--for in this case 10 permit Is viz
tuay TO encourage There Is an abundance Of
good food ~ this country and plenty oi good
and interesting ways 10 practice Workmanship,
without the slaughter Of song and ornamental
birds.
am disposed to take sides with the sentimen.
talists on this matter ! WAS converted % my
barefoot days There are few Incidents o early
life that ] remember more wildly than the kill
ing OF beautiful bue.breasted songstress when
! was youngstcr. highly valued my marks
manshp with stones in those days. u did not
rival the feats of Leather Stocking" At least
could hit COW, at any throwing range, whether
she were running or Eliminating her eud
But cherished a great ambition g bring
down bird with stone. Luckily always
missed until one brilliant summer afternoon about
tea time" as ! was Whistling along Il country
road, bordered with old-iashoned stonc-and-rail
fences, an attractive bird flew up froma fragrant
meadow, and with its throat full Of melody, bal
anccd itself on the tip Of a high fence pole at the
side Of the road, To snatch up round pebble
and fling II at the singer was an act Of instinct
on my part
had failed too often 10 expect TO hit my
mark this time, but TO my perfect an1azement
the sweet voice ceased N an instant there was
a slight blur Of downy feathers N the air where
the bird had just been singing and, with catch.
ing al the heart ] ran 10 the fence and saw the
little victim lying stone dead with the blades Of
grass that half buried il sparkling IN The after
noon sunshine.
II Is impossible for me now 70 describe my
feelings | would have given world 10 restore
that bird 10 life | think the psychological effect
upon mc was due largely 10 the deep silence that
followed the instantaneous cessation 81 the poor
little creatures joyous song. seemed 10 myself
10 have done something worse than murder
had destroyed ! knew not what ! had made q
void IN nature. In mcdltative moments ! can
that scene as il IT were again present and
hear that bird-voiee that was stillcd IL fash
| have never killed bird since not even game
bird
OF course this Is pure sentmcntality. But Il
there anything deeper or more fundamental In
human nature than SENTIMENT Still ! do not
believe IN allowing sentiment 10 submerRe reason
and common sense We have had too much Of
that recently. We must put the case for the
birds on what would ordinarily be regarded as
more solid ground, and such ground is not diff.
cult 10 find
The birds as a whole are great friends and
benefactors to the farmer and the gardener II
they cat few cherries and berries they amply
pay Tor their rations by destroying vast numbers
Of noxous insects, worms and caterpillars. They
are more than worth their keep"
Some naturalists have estimated the number
OF injurious insects that robins and other com
mon birds destroy in day | have not the nR-
ures at hand but | remember that they are sur
prsingly large.
Then the aesthetic value of birds. By virtue
both OF their musical powers and Of their beauty
of form, color and motion is not q mere scnti-
mental consideration A bifdless landscape is
hardly less attractive than treeless one
Anybody who happened 10 see the enthusi-
astic attentions that the surprised strollcrs in
Madison Square few days ago, paid 20 three
scarlet tanagcrs that had sraycd into the great
city, and won every heart by their trustfuness
amid such strange surroundings, must have felt
that birds have shield IN their beauty. Still |
would not have trusted those superb creatures
TO the admiration OF a boy taught to practice his
Workmanship oa living targets