218 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. 



grows, and the fruit ere it is ripe.' 4th. The cultivated plants 

 attacked are apricots, cherries, tigs, apples, grapes, peaches, pluras, 

 pears, nectarines, loquats, olives, wheat and barley, peas, cabbage, 

 cauliflowers and garden seeds generally. 5th. All means of de- 

 fense have hitherto proved inadequate. 6th. The commissioners 

 suggest in addition to the usual means of defense, the tender of 

 rewards for sparrows' eggs and heads; the removal of gun 

 licenses for the season, poisoned water in summer, sulphur fumes 

 under roosts at night, plaster of paris mixed with oatmeal and 

 water. It is further declared that the united action of all prop- 

 erty holders, including the government, is essential to effective 

 results." This experience in Australia tends to confirm the 

 opinion that they ought not to be allowed to increase and drive 

 out our other birds here. 



A pair'of thrushes have been seen to carry over 100 insects, 

 principally caterpillars, to their young in an hour's time. "While 

 most of the birds common in our locality are of inestimable 

 value in the destruction of insects, and deserve to be protected 

 in every possible way, there are, however, some, the crows and 

 jays for instance, who, by devouring the young and eggs of in- 

 sectivorous birds, are chargeable with more loss than gain, and 

 deserve to, and should be destroyed, that others more valuable 

 than they may increase and multiply. 



Aside from the utilitv of these feathered songsters that inhabit 

 and make gladsome our fields and gardens, we may by cultivating 

 a closer acquaintance with them, and observing their habits and 

 characteristics, be interested in a very fruitful and profitable 

 study that will bring us into intimate acquaintance with an order 

 of beautiful life, possessing many of the characteristics common 

 to man. They are fond of domestic comforts and social life, 

 enjoy the beautiful in form and color, and are ever ready to 

 respond to kind attentions, remembering their safe and pleasant 

 haunts as their seasons of visitations return. 



A pleasant incident is related by a writer, urging the impor- 

 tance of protecting our birds, of the simple manner in which he 

 provided for a family of bluebirds. At the opening of the 

 season he put up three tin cans, such as are used in canning 



