136 INSECTS 



It must be realized that under natural conditions in- 

 sectivorous animals depend on insects for their con- 

 tinued existence, and that when fed to the full, there 

 must yet remain enough to supply food for the season 

 to come in spite of all other natural checks, as other- 

 wise the animals, birds and others, would themselves 

 starve to death. I have already pointed out how pecu- 

 liarly well some of the parasitic and predatory forms 

 are adapted to gain control of a runaway species, and 

 it remains to be added that among the effective forms 

 that check the undue increase of parasites, are the 

 birds and other animals that eat parasites and par- 

 asitized insects. 



Now, in spite of the fact that I am convinced that 

 all vertebrate animal life, so far as it affects the insects 

 that are injurious to our farm crops, is of little real 

 benefit to the farmer and fruit-grower, I would not 

 for a moment argue in favor of the destruction of any 

 form of bird or animal life not absolutely harmful to 

 cultivated crops. Birds have their place in preserving 

 the balance of nature and any interference with them 

 is sure to react unfavorably to the agriculturist by 

 increasing his troubles in some direction; and while 

 under normal conditions birds may be of little value, 

 yet under abnormal conditions which tend to remove 

 checks of other kinds, any increase in bird and similar 

 enemies would assist in replacing the other checks. 



I would, therefore, rigidly protect every insectivorous 

 bird and other animal, including non-venomous snakes 

 and toads, and I would also protect every animal that 

 feeds upon insects at any time, providing the direct in- 

 jury done to crops or other farm products is not at any 

 time sufficient to cause appreciable loss to agriculturists. 



I would not hesitate advising the destruction of 

 robins, crows, blackbirds or others when actually en- 



