CONTBOL OP INSECT PESTS McATEE 185 



should be protected by most stringent laws, firmly carried out, restraining 

 the wanton destruction too often indulged in by sportsmen and others." 



Dr. A. D. Hopkins, formerly in charge of Forest Insect Investiga- 

 tions, United States Bureau of Entomology, wrote in connection 

 with his studies of insect enemies of the spruce : 



I would recommend the encouragement and protection of all insectivorous 

 birds, since they are undoubtedly of very great service in preserving a balance 

 among the contending species of plant and animal life, and at times may 

 render most valuable service in reducing the numbers of dangerous insect 

 enemies." 



Dr. E. P. Felt, State Entomologist of New York, also dealing with 

 forest insects, after noting the complete destruction by English spar- 

 rows of a flight of linden-moths, states : 



Insect-feeding birds appear to be the most effective checks upon such out- 

 breaks and occurrences such as noted above are additional arguments for the 

 better protection of birds, since under present conditions, at least, the cost 

 of artificial control in ordinary woodland areas would be prohibitive/'' 



Keferring to the same insect pest Prof. Glenn W. Herrick, of 

 Cornell University, remarks that " Undoubtedly one of the most 

 efficient and feasible means for the control of this insect in our for- 

 ests will be the better protection of our native birds." 



Mr. Arthur Gibson, entomologist of the Dominion of Canada, 

 after detailing the usefulness of birds as enemies of the army worm 

 concludes : 



The value of protecting our native insectivorous birds will thus readily be 

 seen, and farmers, gardeners, etc., should do all they possibly can to protect 

 them."' 



After calling attention to the value of birds as enemies of the 

 tent caterpillars. Dr. J. M. Swaine, chief of the Division of Forest 

 Insects, Canadian Department of Agriculture, puts in italics the 

 assertion that " the protection and encouragement of our native 

 birds would go far towards reducing the numbers of many injurious 

 insects of orchards, shade trees, and forests." " 



Prof. V. H. Lowe, entomologist at the New York State agricul- 

 tural experiment station, says: 



Every thoughtful farmer knows that among the most important forces he 

 has to contend with, in his efforts to produce abundant crops, are the hordes 

 of insects * * *. The birds are among his most useful allies in combating 

 these enemies.** 



^ U. S. Dept. Agr. Bull. 25, 1891, p. 34. 



*3 Report on Investigations to Determine the Cause of Unhealthy Conditions of the 

 Spruce and Pine from 1880-1893, Bull. 5(5, West Virginia Agr. Exp. Station, April, 1889, 

 p. 269. 



"35th Kep. State Ent. N. Y. (1921), June, 1923, pp. 82 and 84. 



<5BulI. 286, Cornell Agr. Exp. Sta., Nov., 1910, p. 63. 



«Bull. 9, Ent. Branch, Can. Dept. Agr., 1915, pp. 16-17. 



*^Ent. Circ. No. 1, Dominion Dept. Agr., 1913, p. 11. 



*8 58th Ann. Kept. N. Y. State Agr. Soc. (1898), 1899, p. 315. 



