Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-11-03
WiTMER STONE
On Protection for Bird Life

A PLEA against the wantou and care
\ less killing of birds is made by Wilmer
Stone, executive curator Of the Academy
of Natural Sciences, president Of the Audu-
bon Society and prominent ornithologist.
Such wasteful slaughter, says DR.. Stone,
would eventually exterminate some OF our
finest birds and work havoc with many
things that they now protect
every one today" said DR.. Stone, 'is
interested directly or indirectly in the con-
servation Of wild life. We have laws pro-
tecting insectivorous birds and more re,
Gently all birds that are not injurious but
which add to the beauty of nature and the
enjoyment of the great outdoors
''We have national. state and private
bird and game refugees where birds ana
animals may breed or rest free from all
persecution, and We have national parks
where the forests and natural conditions are
preserved for posterty. We have had to
fight oil sorts of hostile interests to accom-
plsh these ends and eternal vigilance is
needed to keep them from stepping In and
upsetting what has been done.
Fought by Millinery Trade
"The millinery trade has opposed every
effort to prevent the use of wild bird pu-
mage for ornamentation, lumber companies
privileges in forest reservations and water
companies to get control of water rights-as
witness the present attempt to invade the
Yellowstone Park for private benefit.
Recently another problem presented it.
self. In our zeal to protect beneficial birds
or animals we have excluded certain
noxious species from the benefit of the
laws.
Certain hawks-the sharp Skinned and
Cooper Shave been denied protection be-
cause they feed on poultry and small in
sectivorous birds. Certain small animals
ically poisoned in the West on account of
the injury to crops. This is all right in
sections where actual damage IL being done,
but there Is grave danger in the extension
OF this principle. Many predacious birds
and animals do vast deal of good under
normal conditions in destroying mice and
uOxious insects. but in the vicinity of game
farms and poultry yards they are led into
bad habits by the food in the shape Of
young grain and poultry that is here offered
them
Kill those that are doing the damage,
by all means, but why condemn the whole
race, most of which are doing us benefit.
$50, too. because he catches a few fish
the bald eagle has recently been denied pro-
lection in most parts of our country, with
the result that thousands have been killed
in Alaska alone and the national bird Sc
riously threatened with extinction.
Crow Is on the Fence
"The crow, which expert investigation
shows is at least 'on the fence so far as
his economic value goes, destroying vast
numbers Of alternating insects and weed
seeds In winter as an Offset to his depreda.
tions to corn. etc, in spring, has recently
been marked for determination by ammuni-
tion manufacturers and crow shoots are ad-
vocated all over the country.
with the determination of the crow our
crops will be no better off than before. and
we shall lose one of our most interesting
wild birds, while the fight of crows to and
from their roosts. one Of the most striking
features OF our winter afternoons, will be a
thing Of the past.
Zone more example-the draining OF
marshes to destroy mosquitoes. This
ligently. but we should be sure that we
are draining the real breeding places Of the
insects and we should consider the effect of
the work In other forms of life. In some cases
marshes are drained where no mosquitoes
breed and hoptoads, and dragon flies are
cxterminated, the latter of which land
probably the toad is one of the great
est natural enemies of the mosquito.
Furthermore, millions of other insects acres
of cattails and marshmaows and many
other plants are exterminated. Who knows
what part they may be playing In limiting
the increase OF other noxious organisms
Experts Too Narrow
1.-THE whole thing narrows down to the
fact that it is dangerous to upset the
expert knowledge on the relation of one
form Of life to another before we are war
ranted in dccrecing its determination,
'.roo often experts In only one line, who
are necessarily marrow, insist upon pressing