Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1921-12-01

hundred species in the United States, as whole
shows good economic record. The sparrows, or
inches, are essentially seed eaters but they con-
sumo also fair proportion Of insects, and in gem
eral must be regarded as beneficial.
The hangers and swallows are almost exclusive
Iy beneficial the latter especially being tireless
destroyers Of great variety Of insects.
If soft plumage and harmonious coors were the
criteria Of bird worth. the cedar waxwing would
stand the top. Economically, however. 1t Is
IN the doubtful, even the very doubtful, class. 1t
Is too fond Of flowers buds, and fruits especially
cherries and 1t consorts In such large fOckS while
gratifying these tastes that the interests Of man.
kind suffer considerably.
The butcher birds shrikes, which have the
curious habit of hanging part of their prey upon
thorns, In crotChes, in other suitable places,
destroy some birds, but on the whole beneficial.
About 10 kinds of smooth green-coated vreos
and SO kinds Of warblers of varied and brilliant
but neat plumages constitute the especial guard-
ans Of the foliage of our trees. There millions
Of warbers and vireos in North America and the
aggregate destruction Of insects by them is beyond
conception
Allied In service to the warblers are the bark
climbing creepeYs the Industrious and inqusitlve
nuhatches, the restless and active chickadees and
titmice, and the tree-scannng klngets and gnat-
catchers, of which groups there in the United
States more than rs species.
Mockingbirds, catbrds and thrashers are dis
tlnguished by unusual ability as songsters. Eco
nomiCally considered, all rather too fond of
cultivated fruits, but as rule they do more good
than harm
Closely related to the Knockers and thrashers are
the wrens Of which we have II species These lit
tie birds necessarily active, ureless, and good
singers, almost wholly insectivorous and conse-
Quently beneficial to a high degree.
Only one family of small land birds remains to
be mentioned namely, that including the thrushes
robins and bluebrds. The thrushes are character
istic woodland species, and while not of great
nomic Importance for the most part commend
able In their relation to man. Robins and blue
birds are the most familiar species about our
homes, and so beloved they that they are al
most immune from persecution. The blueblrds
strictly deserve this high consideration but the
robins take large toll from cultivated fruits and
probably too numerous In many localities.
To understand the economic value of birds not
only must the feeding habits of species and faml-
les be known, but also the collective effect of birds
upon pests and crops. Most Of their damage re-
suits from local over-abundance either of one spe
cies Of a number of species Of similar feeding
habits, and It is inflicted chiefly upon fruit and
grain crops.
If birds by their united effort potent to ac-
complish great HARM they are for the same rea-
son able to DO great good In the destruction Of
insect pests. Fortunately, many more species are
helpful than harmful. Unusual outbreaks of pests
upon which birds can feed always attended by
gatherings of the bird clans.
The American Ornithol6gists union model law
for the protection of birds has been adopted by 40
Of the As States Of the Union. The mlgratory-bird
treaty act, putting into force treaty with Great
Britain for the protection Of migratory birds sup
PIGMENTS and re-enforces the state legislation
1t remains only for public opinion to back the
law at every point, and for citizens to put into eff
feet every practicable measure for the Increase
and conservation of bird life. The essentials of
bird attraction are the suppression of enemies and
the provision Of water, food and nesting Sites
Material increase in the numbers Of birds admit
tedly Is a two-sided problem: Some birds of mega
tive value should not be increased while others
not notceabiy destructive may become so
when theyare more abundant, On. the other hand,
there Is no doubt that the majority of birds are
more beneficial than injurious and that by increas-
ing their numbers we shall do ourselves and our
country valuable service.