]26 BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 



practical experience of Agircultural questions extends over a period of more 



than a quarter of a century. — I have, &c. 



(Signed) Joun Rudd Rainey. 



(True copy.) 



J. E. S. Clarke, 



Secretary. 



(True copy.) 



G. A. Andrews, 



Registrar, 



Revenue and Agricltural Department. 



THE PROTECTION OF INSECTIVOROUS BIRDS. 



At a meeting of the Agri-Horticultural Society on Thursday, Mr. Jno. Rudd 

 Rainey, F.R.G.S., delivered an address on the "Effectual protection of insecti- 

 vorous birds in the interests of agriculture." He said : — As this Society has, ever 

 since its foundation, extending over a period of well nigh three score and ten 

 years, been foremost in bringing forward and discussing all subjects likely in 

 any way to promote agricultural interests in this country, as well as advocating 

 such measures as are calculated to prove conducive thereto, hence I venture, 

 as a member of it, to introduce this by no means unimportant subject to their 

 notice with the view of inviting a discussion upon it at this meeting, and 

 persuading the Society to move the Government to pass an enactment for the 

 effectual protection of insectivorous birds in the interest of agriculture. I am 

 more especially induced to do so now, as the recent promulgation of a legisla- 

 tive enactment (Act No. XX. of 1887), entitled "An Act for the Protection of 

 "Wild Birds and Game," fully recognises the fact that the destruction of insec- 

 tivorous birds injuriously affects agriculture, and endeavours to mitigate the 

 evil, but not to any appreciable extent. This, of course, is not sufficient. The 

 utter extermination of insectivorous birds will, no doubt, be thereby prevented 

 but what is really wanted is something more, — the effectual protection from 

 destruction of these useful, nay, valuable, birds to agriculturists. 



In America, to quote from the " Report of the Commissioner of Agriculture" 

 for 1870, p. 510, " The laws passed in 1859 and 1860 to protect wild game from 

 indiscriminate slaughter, and to prevent the reckless killing of insectivorous 

 birds, gave great satisfaction. Farmers and fruit-growers believe in the wisdom 

 of these laws, and are determined they shall not be violated with impunity." 



It being now an admitted and well-known fact, that insectivorous birds are 

 the best friends of agriculturists, it is therefore altogether unnecessary for me 

 to lay any stress upon this point. But it may be stated that, in India, where 

 insects are so various, numerous, aud prolific, the destruction they commit on 

 growing and ripening crops is simply incalculable, so much so that a stipula- 

 tion is sometimes inserted in agricultural leases to the effect that no reduction 

 of rent on account of destruction of crops by insects will be allowed. 



To anticipate any argument that may be advanced regarding certain insects 

 being not oidy harmless, but absolutely useful to crops, I may here state that I 

 am not unmindful of the fact now well known to Botanists, thanks to Sprcngel, 



