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Farm Field And Garden

Farm Field And Garden image
Parent Issue
Day
16
Month
December
Year
1892
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

Iu au essay read before the Mjssachusetts Horticultural society by Mr. Thomas C. Tharlow, it was stated that the usefulness of birds in destroyiug insects is established bevond a doubt. Many of our birds during the spring inontlis live entirely on insects. Moths and millers are cagtured on the wing, others in the larva or chrysalid state, and still othera as tkey appeai in early inormng as worms, grubs, borers, etc. Tlio.se birds classed as perchers or climbers are all insect eating birds. but may later in the season take a little fruit or grain as a dessert. Those classed as robbers, including owls and hawks, snlisist partly on hisects md reptiles, but the damage rlone in killiny other useful birds is probably greater than all tho goou they do. Other native birds are commonly classed as game birds, and althongh it is positively stated by ornithologists that many of these birds subsist largely on insects, still the laws are against them, and they are protected f or certain months in order that sportsinen may have the pleasure of killing them during the remainder of the year. With the disappearance of the marsh bü-ds, once plenty on onr eoasts, the grasshoppers have increased as the birds have decreased. The essayist would not say that if the birds had all been permitted to live there would have been no damage done by insects, bnt it must be adinitted thatwhen the prime val foresta protected thonaands of birds which üow have no such protection, nature preserved the balance of power, and birds and insects must have Iived together fer generations without either gainirrg materially on the uilier. Since that time no new species of insects have been created, though some have been imported, but through various causes the balance of power has teén turned in favor of the insects, till today they are the terror of all agriculturists. Of the English sparrows Mr. Thurlow could say nothing froru experience, as they did not visit his place, but, with his present convictions, he did not regret their absence. Some evidence was read froru others, showing that the robin isialmost insectivorous and that the prejudice against this bird is unjust and unfounded. The common crow, in his opinión, does more damajre bv stroyingthe eggs and youhg of otlier birds than he does' good in devouring a i' w insects. Owls and hawks will kill 8iuall birde; therefore keep thetn at a cli anee. lio slaughter of birds to omanient ladies' hals and dresses was severely deprecafed. The noble exampleofthe Princ'ess of Wales in refusing to inspeel in which birds are iised atrimroing was highly praiaed. In a disciission of the essay varying dpinioas wère expressed by memberg as to crows, liawks and owí, bnt no one spoke favsrably of the English spaiTow.

Article

Subjects
Ann Arbor Argus
Old News