fiO NEBRA'SKA ORNITHOLOGISTS^ 'tlNlON 



the face of thei eSrth;, Somfe kinds livfe almost exc'liisively itpori insects^ 

 while others hunt out the small rodents that would, if left to^ them- 

 selves, destroy "gr^at quantities of grain an<i other ■ vegeta-tion. Still 

 other birds benefit mankind by acting as scavengers in the removal 

 of putrid and other offensive matter which would endanger bur health. 

 In addition to all these varied direct benefits which are brought about 

 by the presence of birds, man is further indebted to these creatures 

 for the cheer which their gay music, bright plumage and pleasant man- 

 iiers bring to him. The birds form a carefully organized army of police 

 Which is engaged in keeping affairs balanced' in nature. 



But we can go even further summing up the benefits that men may 

 derive from the birds." A great many kinds ruake excellent food, while 

 others furnish sport and pleasure to a large number of men and boys 

 who seem to require a certain kind of entertainment while accom- 

 panied with dog and gun. Dead birds when embalmed as mummies 

 and attached to the head-gear worn by some g-irls and: women are also 

 claimed to cause much happiness. 



Birds as Enemies.-— It 'would be ridiculous for me t6 assert here that 

 iio injury ever results from the presence of birds on the farrti^ or in the 

 'Orchard. Quite a nuniber of different species are' continually stepping 

 <)ver to the wrong side of the "ledger" as it were, and commiting depre- 

 dations of various kinds Avhich if considered alone 'would render the 

 perpetrators liable to severe punishmfent — in some cases even Unto 

 'death. Some of the crimes that can be charged to the feathered tribe 

 are cherry and berry-stealing, grape-puncturing, apple-peclcing, corn- 

 pulling, grain-eating, the unintentional carrying from place to place 

 of some kinds of scale insects that happen to crawl on their legs and 

 feet, the possible spreading of hog cholera by crows and buzzards, 

 the robbing- of the poultry yard, and lastly some birds are accused of 

 making noises that awaken us from our slumbers in the morning. 



Some of these crimes are genuine and are to be deplored, while 

 others are more imaginary than real. A few of them could be pre- 

 sented in part or altogether, while others might be diminished if we 

 were inclined to take the trouble to do it. 



' After all that can be said pro and con concerning the usefulness 

 of birds in general there remains no doubt, in the minds of thinking 

 people at least, as to the value of these creatxires. It is only the vicious, 

 biased, and thoxightless persons who continue ruthlessly to destroy 

 birds indiscriminately without first pausing to consider whether or 

 not it is a proper thing to do, whether it is right or Avrong. 



Food habits.— So varied is this task of evening up in nature mentioned 

 above that if attended to properly the workers must be numerous in 

 individuals and possess widely different habits. That such is the case 

 can readily be seen by the following brief account of the various 

 groups of our Nebraska birds, along with brief statements of their food- 

 iiabits. 



