436 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1925 



Prof. C. M. Weed, formerly entomologist at both the Ohio and 

 New Hampshire agricultural experiment stations, notes that: 



After many years of study * * * of the relations of birds to agri- 

 culture, we are convinced that the birds are a most potent factor in making 

 crop production possible, that without them we should be overrun with 

 pests — vertebrate and invertebrate — to an extent of which we now have no 

 conception." 



Dr. Townend Glover, first entomologist of the United States 

 Department of Agriculture, in one of his annual reports says: 



In short, it may be plainly stated that without the cooperation of certain 

 birds, animals, etc., this country would be overrun with insect pests. ■'^" 



And M. Leopold Trouvelot, distinguished French entomologist, 

 whom I have quoted before in connection with bird enemies of the 

 American silkworm, concluded from his observations that if the 

 birds were killed off all vegetation would be destroyed by insects. 



Thus it will be seen that the enthusiasm of entomologists relative 

 to the usefulne.ss of birds has reached the highest possible pitch, in 

 some cases agreeing in substance with the celebrated dictum of 

 Michelet, the French historian and essayist, that " Birds can live 

 without man, but "man can not live without the birds." 



For a more reasoned statement of the utility of birds, let us quote 

 Dr. S. A. Forbes, both an entomologist and ornithologist: 



"Against tlie uprising of inordinate numbers of insects, commonlj^ 

 harmless but capable of becoming temporarily injurious," says Doctor 

 Forbes, " The most valuable and reliable protection is undoubtedly 

 afforded by those predacious birds and insects which eat a mixed 

 food, so that in the absence or diminution of any one element of 

 their food, their own numbers are not seriously affected. Resorting, 

 then, to other food supplies, they are found ready, on occasion, for 

 immediate and overwhelming attack against any^ threatening foe. 

 Especially does the wonderful locomotive power of birds, enabling 

 them to escape scarcity in one region which might otherwise deci- 

 mate them, by simply passing to another more favorable one, without 

 the loss of life, fit them, above all other animals and agencies, to 

 arrest disorder at the start — to head off aspiring and destructive 

 rebellion before it has had time fairly to make head." °^ 



Hitherto we have considered chiefly the testimony of American 

 ob.servers but now let us give attention to Dr. H. ISIaxwcll-Lefroy, 

 the late dominion entomologist of India, since his opinion based 

 on an extensive study of the food of birds in India, so closely paral- 

 lels that of Doctor Forbes just cited. 



"Weed, C. M., nnd Dearborn, N., Birds in Tiioir Relation to Man, lOOS. p. 1. 

 "•Rep. Conimr. Apr, 1870 (1871), p. '.»1. 



"On some Interactions of Organisms, Bull. 111. State Laboratory of Natural History, 

 Vol. I, No. 3, Nov., ISSO, pp. 11-12. 



