POPULAR SCIENCE 275 



as to preserve the private rights of tenant farmers, and so 

 remove a grievance which has undoubtedly engendered much 

 ill-will against these three particular species of birds. 



At the present time all home-grown food is of double value, 

 and every factor that aids in destroying injurious insects is 

 also indirectly conducive to increasing that supply. The three 

 species of game-birds here considered fulfil both of these pur- 

 poses. 



In connection with one species, the pheasant, our Govern- 

 ment have deemed it wise to proclaim and foster its destruction ; 

 but in view of its exceedingly beneficial services to agriculture, 

 such action is to be deeply regretted and most strongly con- 

 demned. If the destruction of wild birds is at last going to 

 receive attention, there are species such as the house-sparrow, 

 wood-pigeon, rook, starling, etc., which are annually costing 

 the country millions of money in the food products destroyed. 

 Just as scientific investigation has shown our game-birds to be 

 beneficial, so it has shown these to be injurious. That the 

 former should be destroyed and the latter allowed to continue 

 their depredations upon the nation's food is surely a striking 

 instance of the lack of appreciation of scientific investigation 

 by those in authority, and how little they are really concerned 

 with the true interests and welfare of agriculture. 



