104 MISSOURI STATE HORTICTLTURAL SOCIETY. 



formances of the poor pining captives. For their music alone we might 

 well prize these denizens of the air and trees. But when we consider 

 their importance to agriculture of all kinds, it becomes worth our while 

 to study carefully their nature, habits, wants, etc. Owing to business 

 cares just at this time, I had concluded not to write, but fearing lest 

 no one else might do so, and knowing that one or two important sub- 

 jects require attention in connection with them, I will make the effort. 

 Referring to what was said in the paper read at the St. Joseph meeting 

 of our society about the Jays, several differ from my views, declaring 

 they do more harm than good. If it can be shown that the Jays are 

 such voracious,' irreclaimable cannibals of their kind, I say let them go. 

 But I persistently deny that they are useless. Charged with living 

 exclusively on flesh, grain and fruit, I ask how do they subsist during 

 the long fall, winter and spring months while they are so busy among 

 the trees? They are destroying millions of eggs of moths and insects 

 of various kinds. They are with us all the time, whereas nearly all 

 other birds are here but a few months, four or five at most. I insist 

 also that the Carolina mocking-bird, called cat-bird from one note he 

 makes, is one of the most useful of all his kind. He is especially the 

 great enemy of the tent-caterpillar, which is often a destroying pest over 

 thousands of acres. Those who make a specialty of raising certain 

 fruits become enraged at the ravages of this bird, especially among the 

 cherry trees. He is very fond of the little sour cherry and ''red Astra- 

 chan" apple. Instead of destroying the bird it would be better to de- 

 vote a small space to the fruit he likes so well. It will then be no 

 difficult matter to keep him away from you valuable fruit. For two 

 or three weeks this bird is very fond of fruit. 



I will confine the remainder of my remarks to the Cardinal Gross- 

 beak and English Sparrow for special reasons. This Cardinal is the 

 glory and wonder of every orchard and house-yard where he makes 

 his home. He begins his melodious song in February and continues it 

 more or less till late in the tall. From February till July, in fine 

 weather, he sine's the day long. I do not know of any great benefit 

 derived from this bird "save the delight he gives to the ear and eye. 

 He loves grain, corn espeaially, but out of the cage he seems to con- 

 sume but little. Several of them make their home in my 

 orchard and yard and in surrounding orchards. In winter I 

 sometimes hang out a few ears of corn in the trees for them, 

 near the house. Yet they do not consume half a dozen ears there from 

 February till May. I particularly mention these birds because they 

 are the objects of an incessant warefare by people who seek them to 

 cage, and for their wings and feathers. I verily believe they will be 



