Foreword 



demanded protection against raptores. To-day we know 

 that every so called " game bird " taken from its work 

 of cleaning up insect pests and weed seeds in the fields 

 is a distinct and heavy financial loss to the farmer. 

 Every hawk or owl stopped in its natural work of elimi- 

 nating beetles, grasshoppers, field mice, moles, and other 

 rodents, leaves thousands of these pests that it would 

 have killed to go on destroying fortunes in vegetable 

 gardens and grain fields. The figures on the subject 

 of destruction of fruit, vegetables, and grain, by insect 

 pests, are appalling. Conversely, carefully compiled 

 statistics concerning the insects and rodents consumed 

 annually by the birds are so amazing that we are led to 

 see that not only are they our loving and entertaining 

 friends, but that they actually stand between us and 

 famine. So I would introduce the birds to every student 

 of bird life on an economic basis first ; and afterward 

 throw in for good measure the gift of their beauty and 

 their song. I would lead no sportsman to the haunt of 

 any bird for any consideration. Each bird, from swallow 

 winnowing the air of insect pests, to scavenging gull and 

 vulture, has its part to perform in the great scheme 

 of Creation. 



GENE STRATTON-PORTER. 



Limberlost Cabin, 

 Rome City, 

 Indiana, 

 U.S.A. 



