BIRDS 



proportions. The thinning process, however, should 

 only be embarked upon when it is absolutely certain 

 the birds are doing more harm than good, for it must 

 be remembered abnormal eruptions of insects cause 

 the birds to concentrate. The chief concern of birds 

 during the spring and early summer is to find the 

 most favourable localities for rearing their families. 

 The young are fed on an insect diet and, unless insects 

 are abundant, the young birds, or a large proportion 

 of them, will perish. 



Some years ago the farmers in Hungary, incensed 

 by the damage done by sparrows to budding fruit 

 trees, and actuated largely by superstition, prejudice, 

 and ignorance, made war on this species of bird and 

 nearly exterminated it. Within the short period of 

 five years the land was in the grip of the insect Huns. 

 The farmers became panic-stricken, for utter ruination 

 stared them in the face. Fortunately knowledge, and 

 with it repentance in this instance, did not come too 

 late. The sparrow came into his own again, and the 

 country was saved. 



James Buckland, whose life's work has been 

 devoted to spreading knowledge in regard to the 

 economic value of birds, relates several instances of 

 the serious consequences attendant on the indis- 

 criminate destruction of wild birds, which are briefly 

 as follows: — 



In the island of Bourbon the people, impelled by 



erroneous beliefs and superstition, set a price on the 



martin's head. The birds were nearly annihilated, 



and, as a consequence, grasshoppers overspread the 



vol. i. 17 2 



