244 Bird - Lore 



"gravely pronounced sentence of excommunication against the multitudes of 

 caterpillars which desolated his diocese." The annals continue: "None of our 

 countrymen have believed in such means as efficacious. They have devised 

 measures to destroy them all they could and then waited for their disappear- 

 ance." 



There was a general impression that cankerworms ran out in seven years. 

 At any rate "after 1S34 their numbers were smaller," and the apple-tree 

 eventually furnished their favorite food. 



So destructive were some of these pests that fasts were held from time to 

 time on account of caterpillars and "palmer worms." That the numbers of 

 these insect foes were alarmingly great seems evident from the current reports 

 of those who journeyed from one locality to another. Even making due allow- 

 ance for exaggerated descriptions, it is hardly likely that anyone would write: 

 "This summer multitudes of flying caterpillars arose out of the ground and 

 from roots of corn, making such a noyse in the aire, that travellers must speak 

 loud to hear one another, yet they only seazed upon the trees in the wilderness," 

 unless great numbers of locusts were present. 



The struggles of our forefathers to establish an adequate and increasing 

 food-supply, we, in our day and generation, shall never be able to realize. 

 Without proper and time-saving implements, or sufficient fertilizing material, 

 and probably with very little if any idea of intensive cultivation, their labors 

 in productive agriculture were rigorous and more often than not, unrewarding. 

 How ample to them would seem the food-supply of to-day, and how simple and 

 easy the requirements for food-conservation laid down by our wise 

 administrators! 



It is interesting to find references to nesting and transient birds in these 

 forgotten annals of olden times. Writing to the Countess of Lincoln in 1631, 

 Governor Dudley said: "Upon the 8 of March from after it was faire daylight 

 untill about 8 of the clock in the forenoon, there flew over all the towns in our 

 plantacons soe many flocks of doves, each flock conteyning many thousands 

 and some soe many that they obscured the light, that passeth credit, if but 

 the truth should bee written." Doubtless the "doves" mentioned were Pas- 

 senger Pigeons, lost to us and to all who come after us. The migration of 

 birds was little understood in those early days, so it is not surprising that the 

 appearance of such large flocks of Pigeons was thought to portend some great 

 event. 



How great the changes are that have come to our land since its pioneer 

 settlement, we can grasp more clearly by studying graphic charts than by read- 

 ing statistics. In the editorial of this number entitled, "Awake to the Times," 

 is a suggestive outline by means of which fairly accurate comparisons of pres- 

 ent conditions can be made. When }'ou have a general idea of these conditions, 

 a mental picture, as it were, of the resources of your home state and adjoining 

 states, add to it, from a study of early American history, such facts as will show 



