Birds. 423 



The woodpecker is said by some to spoil apples and to make holes in 

 fruit trees for the purpose of getting to the tender wood beneath. Only 

 one species do this, but all woodpeckers dig out insects, which, if they 

 remained, in time wouhl kill the tree, being beneath the bark so that only 

 certain birds can reach them. The bee martin is thought by some to eat 

 bees, but upon examining the crops of a number of these not one bee was 

 found. 



In Prussia a few years ago there was a bounty given for killing birds. 

 Many were killed, and, as a result, at the end of two years the crops 

 were utterly desroyed by insects. After all the benefits the birds are to 

 us to think of so many being killed annually as there are is enough to 

 make one shudder. Many are killed for sport, while others are used for 

 food or to adorn ladies' hats and dresses. It is a most cruel and heartless 

 custom for women to wear birds, by whose death our land is being gradu- 

 ally thinned of its beautiful songsters, who are our best friends. One 

 should be kind to the birds, instead of being the cause of their death for 

 the sake of vanity. — Grace Cade, in Homestead. 



' TO PEOTECT THE BIEDS. 



A. H. GILLESON, SR., INTRODUCES A NOVEL SCHEME INTO THE 



SCHOOLS. 



A. H. Gilkeson, Sr., of this city is an enthusiastic and valuable 

 member of the State Horticultural Society. He was present at the last 

 meeting of the society when a strong resolution was placed favoring the 

 protection of the birds. 



In conversation with a ''Star" reporter this morning Mr. Gilkeson 

 spoke of the vaule of the birds especially in fruit raising. For illustra- 

 tion he said that several years ago he presented to the students of the 

 ISTormal and Public Schools some fine apples, small in size but of a rare 

 variety. The apples that year were excellent in quality but this year 

 they are very poor on account of a kind of worm. Had there been suffi- 

 cient number of birds to have destroyed the insect the fruit would have 

 been perfect again. 



