18S3.] UTILITY OF BIRDS IN AGRICULTURE. 75 



EVENING SESSION. 



The Convention was called to order at seven o'clock, and 

 the chairman introduced Prof. W. A. Stearns, who read a 

 lecture on 



THE UTILITY OF BIRDS IN AGRICULTURE AND IN 



MIGRATION. 



PKOF. W. A. STEARNS, AMHERST, MASS. 



Mr. President : Ladies and Gentlemen : — 



With your kind permission I will proceed to speak upon the 

 subject of to-night's discourse: "The Utility of Birds in Agricul- 

 ture and in Migration!" 



I shall not hope to be able to add much really new material to 

 the subject in question, but should I glean from our previous 

 knowledge a few perhaps hitherto neglected facts, -and present 

 them in a pleasing manner, and in a new light, my labor will not 

 have been entirely lost. 



Though I am sensible that what I shall say could have been 

 contained in a half as many words, better chosen perhaps, you 

 must take the good will for the deed. 



Part 1. Classification. 



As a preliminary to the main part of my discourse to-night, 

 I hope I may be excused for first presenting a little dry detail, as 

 to the natural characteristics of this class of the animal kingdom, 

 and their arrangement in classification according to the latest and 

 most approved authorities. It is a subject about which but httle 

 need be said in such a place as this, chiefly for want of time; but 

 that little seems required, more for the edification of those who 

 as yet are unacquainted with the "new system " it there beany 

 such, than because it is required here; while it will form an apol- 

 ogy for an introduction to the body matter of the pages that shall 

 follow, and perhaps answer such a purpose equally weU. 



The classification of birds most familiar to the majority is 

 undoubtedly that of Illigers and Vigors, as modified from and 

 added to that of Linnaeus, the father of this as of other scientific 

 classification, and consists of seven orders, as follows: — 



