342 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



a Mack bird will destroy fiftj^ grubs a day. Even in winter its food consists of chrys- 

 olides and spiders. A family of plovers will destroy mj'riads of grasslioppers. Quails, 

 in immense flocks, have been shot immediately after foraging a planted field. Upon 

 examination, no grain was discovered in them, but plenty of cut- worms and other 

 insects. Mr. Eeeder continued to speak in favor of the birds, quoting from numerous 

 works to show their great benefits to farming and agricultural interests. Before 

 closing, he desired to say a word in regard to bird laws. Most of the States have those 

 laws. Illinois has a game law, but no bird law. Michigan has a law that fixes the 

 penalty at ^5 each for killing small birds. In Ohio the penalty is $10 for each oflense. 

 The birds protected in Ohio are the sparrow, robin, blue bird, martin, thrush, mock- 

 ing bird, swallow, meadowlark, pewee, wren, cuckoos, indigo bird, nuthatch, creep- 

 er, flicker, finch, oriole, red bird, and cat bird. A similar law, with modifications, 

 obtains in other States. Why should not this society make a move to have a similar 

 law passed in this State? 



Dr. Hooton followed with a perfect shower of shell— some of them right hot— which 

 he poured in remorselessly, apparently without regard to cost, fear of getting out of 

 ammunition, or flutter of feathers. He did not declare a war of extei'mination against 

 the birds; should protect some and destroy others; was opposed to a law protecting 

 bii'ds. Alluded to Longfellow's jingling rhymes, but did not believe that he or Audu- 

 bon ever raised a peach. The Doctor showed, inadvertently, probably, that he pos- 

 sessed a dash of sentiment as well as other members, by relating in a touching manner 

 the stary of the "Babes in the Woods," which he had read as a boy, and caused him 

 to cherish the robin as nearly sacred for many years. But he had got bravely over 

 that. His observation and experience taught him that the fewer birds the more fruit. 

 To show that he was not lonesome or singular in his conclusions, he produced a well- 

 loaded scrap-book, from which he discharged round after round of the concentrated 

 wisdom of the Alton fruit-growers, Benj. D. Walsh, our State Entomologist, Dr. 

 Spaulding, Dr. Tice, and eminent horticulturists all orer the country, all of which 

 went to prove that raising fruit and birds does not work well together. 



Bruntou thought thorough cultivation a more certain remedy against insects than 

 birds. If we plant plenty of the best varieties of grapes we may be able to gather the 

 poorer kinds for our own use. 



Crosby had always been m, friend to the birds, but he must confess that his convic- 

 tions of the benefits conferred hj them had become somewhat shattered by the Doctor's 

 extracts. 



Webster thought the more English sparrows we have the worse it would be for the 

 farmers. In England boys were employed to watch the fields and scare ofl' the birds. 

 Would not extermmate all birds. We have fruit exposed to their ravages but a small 

 portion of the year, while we have birds all the time. 



Eldridge was satisfied that some varieties of birds do damage while some others may 

 not. It wiU not require many years for a man with sharp eyes to learn which are 

 beneficial. In alluding to the sap-sucker, he said that if he wanted holes made in his 

 trees he Avould prefer to make them himself, according to his own judgment. Admit- 

 ted that birds would eat bugs if you would plow them up for them. Related his expe- 

 rience in Du Page county thirty years ago. It was nearly impossible to save either 

 oats or corn. Stated an incident that occurred with a neighbor holding family worship. 



