18 



Bird Notes and New* 



Society do not shut their eyes to the 

 damage done to various crops by various 

 birds at certain seasons ; and of their 

 consequent sympathy with reasonable 

 complaints of cultivators of Farm and 

 Garden. But though the Society en- 

 couraged and anticipated no bias in 

 favour of the birds, the institution of the 

 Competition is in itseK evidence of 

 the importance attached by them to 

 the preservation of bird-life, and their 

 conviction that in urging such preservation 

 together with measures for the safe- 

 guarding of crops in their seasons, they 

 are demonstrating the truest and most 

 practical form of sympathy with the 

 troubles of farmers and gardeners. In 

 this they have, without asking it, the 

 support of every one of the competitors in 

 a greater or less degree. While it is 

 demonstrated to be possible to keep birds 

 off crops at a time when they take seed 

 or fruit, it is admittedly impossible to 

 provide insecticides or weed-destroyers 

 comparable in assiduity, in thoroughness, 

 and in cheapness to the beak of the bird 

 that is at work throughout the year. Full 

 and appreciative acknowledgment of the 

 services of the birds is made by nine- 

 tenths of the writers taking part in the 

 Competition. 



The point is Hkewise one to which 

 particular attention is directed by the 

 new Ligue Frangaise pour la Protection 

 des Oiseaux, in the third number (April, 

 1912) of the League's Bulletin. The 

 Comte d'Orfeuille, its Secretary, quotes 

 passages from an official letter addressed 

 to the Minister of Agriculture on behalf 

 of the agriculturists and vine-growers of 

 the Cote-d'Or, " protesting with energy 

 against the culpable indifference " which 

 has shghted the provisions of the Inter- 

 national Convention relative to the pro- 

 tection of small birds " indispensable to 

 our agriculture and vine-culture," and 



citing the increasing invasions of insects, 

 and the danger, expense, and unsatis- 

 factory results of insecticides. The Comte 

 d'Orfeuille quotes also some striking facts 

 given by M. Rouviere-Huc. In 1906 the 

 Gironde lost more than 20 milhon 

 (francs), and in 1910 I'Aube 40 milHons 

 owing to the destructive work of insects ; 

 while, it is pointed out, the Tit will 

 consume 500 insects in a day. " What 

 is necessary is to demonstrate mathe- 

 matically the results of the thoughtlessness 

 which we have to deplore in France. Why, 

 if there is a law, not enforce it ? Why, if 

 it is insufficient, not re-make it ? " 



Among the many suggestions for keep- 

 ing birds temporarily from field or garden, 

 one of the most constant is that of 

 providing them with food and water. For 

 after all, birds must eat, and if the new- 

 sown seed is to be kept from the busy 

 Httle beak, and the luscious pear is to be 

 denied to the thirsty little throat, it is 

 but reasonable to supply a substitute. 

 A small sanctuary where peace and food 

 may be found when the bird is scared by 

 some effective means from the cultivated 

 crop, seems the ideal state of things. 



For the many excellent hints and 

 directions given by Mr. E. Purnell Jones, 

 Mr. E. J. Piatt, and twenty-six other 

 authorities, readers of Bird Notes and News 

 must be referred to " Farm, Garden, and 

 Birds." Apart from its primary object, 

 the Competition has, to quote from the 

 preface to the pamphlet, served two good 

 purposes : — 



" It shows plainly, on the evidence of 

 men who have succeeded, that crops of all 

 kinds may be defended from the attacks of 

 birds (by those who will take a little trouble 

 in the matter) at a cost no greater than that 

 entailed in their destruction. But it also 

 shows that, beyond the ingenuity of farmer 

 and gardener, there is ample room in the 

 market for improved methods of scaring. 

 The means detailed in the Essays may be 



