Smyrna times., 1935-08-08
NATURES WAY
OF BALANCING
Mans Interference Brings I'm
fOrSeen Results In
Australia
is EASILY DISTURBED

Washington.-Nature has toppled
off her balance again; this time in
western Australia. Small green
parrots usually unobtrusively pres
ent in the Australian bush, have
multiplied until they are practical
'ly plague, according to news dis
patches. The birds are reported to
be so numerous that a flock alight-
ing on a roof sounds like a hail
storm and the roof appears to be
painted green.
The sudden appearance of the
parrots in such great numbers is a
striking example of Natures intri.
cate interconnections," says the Ma
tional Geographic society. "Biolo-
gists attribute the increase to a
preceding plague of grasshoppers
which inspired parrot parents to
raise more offspring than usual. II
is probable that when the parrots
have eaten the excess insects, they
will run out of food and decrease
in numbers, and Nature will recover
her equilibrium.
That a complex chain of influ,
ence links practically all organic
life is well known. The relation OF
flies to frogs, of chickens to hawks
is evident. The remote relation OF
cats to clover is more subtle. Ac
cording to Darwin's famous expla
nation, in some places large clover
crop depends on a large number OF
cats. If it were not for cats killing
field mice, the mice would drive
bumblebees away by destroying
their combs and nests. Since bees
are necessary to fertilize certain
kinds of clover, it is obvious thai
no cats, mice-mice, no bees-nC
bees, no clover.
Fish and Buttons.
"The relation between fish and
the buttons on your shirt is mo-
far to seek. Some years ago pear
button manufacturers on the Mis-
sissippi river looked harassed
Catches of CLAIMS were rapidly dwin
ding. Since the buttons were GU
of clamshells, this was no joke. In
vestigation disclosed that clam:
lead part of their life cycle as lar
vac attached to the gills of certain
river fish, such as suckers. Fish
ermen had been depicting the fsl
population, not knowing they wer,
depriving infant CLAIMS of a home
The button manufacturers, realizin!
that no fish, no clamsLno clans, M
buttons-hastily built up the fisl
population by artificial propagation
and saved their industry.
"Since the relation between mos
creatures is as delicately adjusted
as the mechanism of a watch, man
attempt to regulate it to his salts
faction sometimes brings unfOre
seen results. Tired of being awak
ened by the fiendish whooping 0
certain kingfishers, Australians |
few years ago began killing thes
laughing jackasses.' They were re
warded by a sudden increase o
snakes, which the birds had beei
helping to keep under control.
"The farmer who shoots hawk
unfortunately may save hi
chickens, but he is likely to see hi
crops ruined by field mice, marmot
and other rodents, which have mul
tiplied unchecked.
''Even in small numbers, certain
mice injure orchards, nurseries, ant
root crops. But what damage the,
can do when they reach plagu
proportions was realized by Nevad;
farmers in 1907 and 1908. At tha
time, prairie mice caused damag
estimated at 100000. On man,
ranches, the mice, often 1900 0
them to the acre, riddled alfalf:
fields with their burrows until som
fields had to be plowed up.
rats, responsible for much dam
age to buildings, and for disease
are wonderfully prolific. If the.
were allowed to multiply unchecked
it would soon take more than
Pied Piper to cope with them.
Pest of Rabbits.
Ground squirrels do great dam
age to orchards and cultivate,
fields in the United States, espe
cially in California; and prairi
dogs, ground hogs, and rabbits ad,
to the toll taken by small animals
"Just as determination of certain
animals may upset the apple cart
similarly introduction of foreigl
species Of animals may work havoc
Australia, now plagued with par
riots, seems to have its share o
pests. Plaques Of rats and mic
.recur at intervals. Introduce
snails, sparrows, and starlings mul
.tiply into scourges that alarm farm
ers and ranehmen. Sheep raiser
On oartaip dictfscfS poon . e,boY