Palisadian., 1924-07-25
Hu7tinS Mouse Car

ororsed against the pelican its legendary raw
ages upon hsh -
Tinted States Department Of Agriculture. That
department has issued bulletin by b. H. Kahn
bach of the bureau of biological survey.
"Some of the complaints against the crow" Mr.
Kalmbach says "are well-nigh traditional, whle
few of its beneficial habits have long been matters
of common knowledge. Irreconciable dif1erences
of opinion regarding the crows worth have often
been the rule among residents of a community,
and IT has been only recently that sufficient infor
nation has been assembled from most parts OF
the birds range to allow thorough study of its
habits" And he goes on:
What bird eats does not eat is the nrst oues-
tion to be In inquiry into Its economic
status About 2s per of the yearly food OF
the adult consists of animal matter. In this
are found insects SPIDERS milhpeos. cIuslaceas
snails the remains of reptiles amphbians. WHO
birds and eggs, poultry and their eggs. small
mammals, and carbon
Over two-thirds of the animal food. about Q
fifth of the whole diet of the crow. Is composed OK
insects and these include many of the most de-
structive pests with which the farmer has to deal
Beetles of various kinds constitute about TO per
cent of the crows annual food. They are q pro-
miscuous lot, some beneficial. some neutral, and
others which comprise the major portion. highly
Injurious Orthoptera including grasshoppers, To-
Gusts and crickets, form about equal quantity
but this order of insects innicts far ex
ceeds that done by the various beetles eaten. The
short-horned grasshoppers especially destruct-
i've and. while these insects have never been such
serious pests in the eastern states in parts
Of the west, the annual toll by them through
the country amounts to many millions or dollars
nnsftb Of ahd the crows food caterpars
about 1b per cent Of the diet Of the adults; nes-
things, however eat nearly four times as much.
The size and the voracious appetites of crows
make these birds especially valuable In times Oh
which they feed In feeding mammals the crow
supplements the good work of hawks and Owls py
tending to hold in check rodent pests. AS car.
rion feeder the ably supplements the good
Of the turkey buzzard. especially along river
banks and tidal flats.
nf wh fNh
cused outnumber it's good deeds. but this does not
mean they equal in Importance Many of the
crows depredations may be lessened or entirely
prevented by protective measures. while in Its prey
ing insects it does work that can Ill be spared.
An erabundance these birds is not to the best
interests of the farmer. but on the other hand ex-
Termination Of the crow would result In taking
away a most effective enemy Of certain insect pests.
Consequently the instituting of control measures
is justihable locally where the birds are taking
more than a fair share Of the crops in return for
good services rendered. while in other sections
where crows occur in normal numbers they may
better be allowed to exist unmolested
Mr. Kalmbach, writing in Nature Magazine, is
emphatic on other points Of Importance He
says, In part:
game law enforcement If the for shooting
crow will afford a universal. logical and suff-
c,ant reason for being aheld? Experienced admin
istrators of games laws realize the added difficult
ties of such a situation In fact an anti-crow cam
looked upon as of the most disastrous blows at
eAlcient game law enforcement since the passage
of the migratory bird treaty act simplineo warden
sarvice by putting a stop to spring shooting.
And vet aside from these specific objections, 10
tbere not something still more fundamental at is
sne In situation of this kind? Organized and
nrivately financed propaganda. with all the import
that usually goes with that word In current usage.
ina hsan invoked to formulate public opinion
gardinr the economic position of wild creature
n,atter in which sound economic principles and log
,na, scientific reasoning alone should prevail
shan repeat what has been said previously, that
under variety OF situations. crow control is justi-
eahla and even necessary 1t Is, however, prob
To- that along with other problems that arise in
onrection with our wild life. calls for sober
thought logical reasoning, ana careful adminisr:- e
hands of those who can give us constant assuH-
ance and guarantee of such procedure Looie
thsnkinR distorted data, unsound propaganda, ana
irresponsible conduct Of campaigns have no place
in such an undertaking.