BIRDS AND INSECTS. 



not destroy insects at all; and then this proposition is combatted by each after his own man 

 ner. The Maine Farmer kindly -volunteered an essay upon ornithology, to prove for my 

 enlightenment that 'insects' do form a considerable article of diet for the birds, and gave 

 me particular instructions how to proceed to ascertain the fact, closing with a recom- 

 mendation that I turn my attention for a while to a course of study in that direction. 

 Though the studj'- would unquestionably prove both agreeable and instructive, yet I ac- 

 cept as a ' finalit}',' the knowledge which the science has been compelled to yield to that 

 writer's exemplarj' diligence and perseverance, and which he has been so generous as to im- 

 part, and submissively admit the feet he so confidently claims. I am the more readily 

 persuaded, perhaps, to make this concession, as I manj'^ 3^ears since came to the same con- 

 clusion, from observation as a mere outsider. I believe I provided against such exception- 

 al cases as he mentions, of the caterpillar being occasionally eaten by the oriole, and the 

 cut worm b}^ the robin, in the admission that a thousand such instances might possibly be 

 proved, yet with little avail, notwithstanding. Such instances in case of the robin, are 

 evidently mistakes, growing out of the eagerness of his pursuit of angle worms, for which 

 he would not like to be held responsible, were they criminal, and he would honorably 

 waive the credit of them, as they are not. About the time the article in question was 

 written, our orchards here abounded with caterpillars beyond all precedent. There was 

 not an apple tree which was not overrun by them. Now it so happened that on one was the 

 nest of an oriole, and on another that of a robin. As I had never seen a bird of any de- 

 scription assail this pest, these circumstances gave me an opportunity, which I felt inte- 

 rest enough to improve, to watch their demonstrations upon it. Though this observation 

 extended through a period of two or three weeks, including the time of rearing their 

 young, yet I never, in a single instance, saw a caterpillar molested by either of them. The 

 robin manifested peculiar forbearance, for while the worms lay in plasters on the limbs 

 leading fiom her nest, and were often seen even crawling over the nest itself, she sat upon 

 it in perfect composure, and apparently unconscious of their presence. Such observations 

 fiequently made, confirmed my disbelief as to their being great benefactors in the destruc- 

 tion, at least, of this 'pestiferous insect.' 



" A Lady Subscriber at the West," also, with the same obliquity of understanding 

 which others who have favored me with their strictures have manifested, is roused to in- 

 expressible anger against me, and rates me soundly for something I did not say. "Why, 

 sir, in her delusion, she even threatens to take violent liberties with my hair! Prencz 

 garde, Madaviel that's a hyper-hazardous experiment, and might provoke a retort involv- 

 ing a trial of the christian virtue, to turn the other cheek also. I surely was not contend- 

 ing that the boys did not outrage the sensibilities of sympathetic ladies, now and then, 

 by destroying their pet birds, nor extenuating their transgression if they did, but was 

 claiming that their destructiveness in this way was altogether too insignificant to cause 

 any material decrease of insects. My own sympathies were distinctively manifested in 

 denouncing woe against them, should I catch them trespassing upon the birds within my 

 territory. I see no cause of quarrel, therefore, between the "Lady Subscriber at the 

 West," and myself. 



The very accomplished and agreeable monthly contributor to the pages of the Horti- 

 culturist, Jeffreys, betrays the same inevitable proclivity to misconception. He assures 

 me, in the September number, with the most charming earnestness, that birds " do catch 

 worms— caterpillars even— and bugs, and spiders." My dear sir, my langunge was— not 

 they do not catch a thousand harmless insects of one kind and another, nor that 

 even occasionally, possibly, pick up one of the most " pestiferous" — but that 



