86 Wild Bird Guests 



determine the exact economic value of the birds. 

 However, where pains have been taken to work 

 out the interrelations of birds and predacious 

 insects the evidence obtained seems to be chiefly 

 in favor of the birds, and at least until a more 

 exhaustive study of these interrelations results 

 in definitely establishing their economic status, 

 we should give such birds the benfit of the doubt. 



As this book is not primarily a work on the 

 value of birds, that subject cannot be dealt with 

 exhaustively here. But I will try to present 

 to the reader just enough evidence to leave in his 

 mind no doubt that birds as a class are not only 

 useful, but very useful, and that it is well worth 

 our while, even from a selfish standpoint to 

 protect them and to insist upon their protection 

 by others. 



We are often surprised to find that birds which 

 we had regarded simply as beautiful or poetic 

 are very useful as well. As we have seen in the 

 case of the plague of crickets which threatened 

 to ruin the Mormons, gulls can do more than add 

 to the beauty of a landscape. Given the protec- 

 tion they deserve they become valuable allies 

 of the farmers, coming with terns and other 

 birds to be a scourge to the locusts and other 

 insects which lessen the profits of farming. 

 Eighty-four locusts have been found in the 



