358 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



ist's interests. A few kinds, like the robin, undoubtedly inflict some damage on 

 our smaller fruits, but this is so inconsiderable in view of the great service they 

 render as the destroyers of worms and insects that no intelligent or respectable 

 horticulturist will regard them otherwise than as his friends. 



The bearing of all this is apparent. As our country becomes older there will 

 be increasing invasions of pests hurtful to the interests of farmer and fruit 

 grower unless some counter force or strategy shall check the evil. In a paper 

 read by a professor of our Agricultural College before the American Pomolog- 

 ical Society, last fall, the enumeration of the increasing varieties of injurious 

 insects was simply amazing. Artificial methods for their destruction were 

 wisely suggested. These undoubtedly are necessary, and a greater demand for 

 them will be witnessed in the coming years. But there is nature's great rem- 

 edy in the birds, intended to hold in check these vast insect tribes. And to 

 the degree that thfi farmer or fruit raiser suffers a destruction of the birds to 

 go on does he deprive himself of the needed aid of his natural allies. 



What methods, then, can be pursued in order to preserve our native birds? 

 Obviously one is the statute. In some States stricter laws should be enacted, 

 while in our own commonwealth the Legislature has already passed very strin- 

 gent enactments. Not only are the game birds protected in season, but there 

 is a very definite and comprehensive statute touching insectivorous song birds, 

 as follows: 



" Any person who shall at any time, within this State, kill any robin, night- 

 hawk, whippoorwill, finch, thrush, lark, sparrow, cherry bird, swallow, yellow 

 bird, blue bird, brown thrasher, wren, martin, oriole, woodpecker, bobolink, or 

 any song bird, or rob the nests of such birds, shall be deemed guilty of a mis- 

 demeanor, and on conviction thereof shall be fined five dollars for each bird 

 killed, and for each nest so robbed, or confined in the county jail for ten days, 

 or both such fine and imprisonment shall be imposed, at the discretion of the 

 court. " 



Doubtless other birds should be added to this list, and the section defining 

 the killing of birds and gathering of eggs for scientific purposes should be more 

 restrictive; but if we live up to the law as it is we shall do much toward pre- 

 serving our native birds. 



It comes, then, to this at last: That we need a more thorough education of 

 public sentiment on this subject. People are simply indifferent to this whole- 

 sale destruction of bird-life because unaware of the extent to which it is being 

 carried on. Let the plain facts become known and there will be a general out- 

 cry against it. The American Ornithologists' Union is endeavoring to get 

 these facts before the people and is encouraging the formation of local Audu- 

 bon societies, auxiliary to its great work. The figures which it represents are 

 startling and calculated to touch our deepest sympathies. After becoming 

 familiar with its revelations I do not see how any one can needlessly or thought- 

 lessly kill a bird or rob a nest, or in any manner be a party to this national 

 evil. With a knowledge of the amazing facts I cannot conceive how any lady 

 can ever purchase another bird for her hat, or even wear the feathered decora- 

 tions she has, without feeling that she is abetting a great wrong. It is not 

 that in the eyes of men it has suddenly become cruel to kill birds because 

 women have acquired a taste for them. It is, rather, that this general use of 

 birds for personal decoration has occasioned their wholesale slaughter, and 

 awakened us to the magnitude of the evil. The movement of the ornithol- 

 ogists and their friends cannot possibly be twisted into any petty spite against 



