INSECT-EATIXG BIRDS. 



209 



time the . agricultural papers were continuallj saying some- 

 thing for or against these birds, and although not so much 

 is heard on the 

 subject now, yet 

 the question has 

 not been settled 

 to the satisfac- 

 tion of all. From 

 our own obser- 

 vation we are 

 compelled to be- 

 lieve that the 

 crow is a very 

 injurious bird, 

 but the robin an 

 equally benefi- 

 cial one. The -^^^^^ 



crow is acknowl- ^S- 29.— WiW-goose. a. Canadensis. 



edged, even by his friends, to pull up a good deal of corn, but 

 it is urged that he destroys enough insects and grubs to com- 

 pensate for this injury. Granting this, it leaves him neutral, 

 doing as much good as harm ; but 

 this leaves unnoticed the fact that 

 he destroys a great number of eggs 

 and young of small birds which, if 

 permitted to live, would have de- 

 stroyed vastly more insects than the 

 crow. The robin is blamed for eat- 

 ing cherries and other small fruits. 

 This charge is doubtless just, but 

 we must remember that it is not 

 more than two months that he is in- 

 jurious in this way, while during 

 the other four months of his stay 

 with us he must be regarded as ben- 

 eficial. Fig. 30.— WUeon's Tern. S. Wilsoni. 



Since the manuscript of this essay was prepared, the law 

 protecting birds, given on pages 202 and 203, has been 

 repealed and a new one enacted. Its provisions are, briefly, 

 as follows : — 



27 



