The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1921-06-02
Cats, Birds, Insects.
Their Value to Farmers and Mankind
Discussed by an Entomologist.

To THE New York HERALD: Before
discussing the trapping of cats to prevent
them from destroying birds which ca:
insects and. as It is alleged, thus benefit
crops which insects might injure, I may
say that in more than fifty years have
not molested or eaten any wild bird.
On the tract of field and forest where
my country residence is located no per-
son Is permitted to destroy any animal.
bird or reptile.
The fact Is birds that destroy most
insects do vast and incalculaSle injury
thereby. Insects may be divided Into
the beneficial and the injurious.
In the first division are the predaceous
and parasitic, which destroy other in
sects, and were 1t not for these In very
brief period the earth would be stripped
of vegetation and every form OF ter
restrial life would disappear. Birds are
mere ciphers and not worth mentioning
in comparison with the activities Of
these predaceous and parasitic insects.
particularly because they exterminate
many harmful species which are totally
Inaccessible to birds. Birds. however,
eat and destroy vast numbers of these
beneficial insects
Then there are the scavengsr insects.
OF which the house fly is one. and many
others Of ell orders. They, by aiding
the rapid dissolution of decaying or
ganic material. promote sanitation,
maintain the purity of the air and water
and prevent disease and plaques. 1t II
a maxim in India that n summer with
out flies is always followed by a pesti-
lence. Indeed. the earth would not be
habitable without them. Birds, includ.
ing poultry, eat these valuable insects
with avidity.
The angleworm, a scavenger. soil
maker and soil aerator and OF vast ben
eft to the agriculturist. Is a choice
morsel to many birds. In the externi-
nation of injurious insects which birds
do not touch vast sums have been ex-
pended for labor and destructive sprays.
Or. Howard. chief of the Bureau OF
Entomology at washington, is import
ing predacecus and parasitic insects
from Europe 70 combat. the gypsy and
brown tail moths, which the birds viii.
not consume. but the birds feed on the
imported insects with relish. In addi-
ton. there is n heavy score aga!ns.
birds because they injure fruit vcge-
tables, grain and vegetable and flower
seeds and help to spread weeds.
Az TO the cat, I cannot conceive OF
an animal that Is OF greater value to
the human race. The entire world Ia
harasscd and damaged by rats and mice
and similar rodents. The cat. supple
mented by traps because II is Impossi-
BILE for the animal TO penetrate the In
tricate and involved hiding places OF
rodents in our structures. Is our only
resort and reliance against rats and
mice. We need every cat. and every
means should be awaited Of TO train and
care for 70.
The most useful cat Is the vagrant
who etrays through the fields and for
ests and captures the destructive field
mice. The cat is nocturnal ms we'll as
the rats and mice Could we compute
the toll of rats and mice which the
wandering cats seize at night in city
like New York the result would be
astounding. The law in this State
passed at the instance Of pothunters,
permitting any licensed gunner to shoo'
a cat seen IN the fields or forests. should
he repealed without delay.
ARCHIBALD G. WEEKS,
Librarian Brooklyn chronological
Society.
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