BIRDS 



Martins and swallows rear broods of from four 

 to six, according to the species. The young are fed 

 on insects captured on the wing. 



The authorities in a certain South African town 

 objected to the " unsightly appearance " of a number of 

 swallows' nests under the eaves and other sheltered nooks 

 and corners on the town hall. The fire brigade was 

 turned out, and strong jets of water were turned on to the 

 mud nests. Over 300 were washed down with the 

 nestling birds, which perished miserably. Taking the 

 average number of young in each nest at four, we have 

 1,200 young and 600 adults. Each family destroys 

 on an average 2,000 flies, gnats, winged weevils, and 

 aphides in a day. It will thus be seen this little colony 

 of swallows destroyed more than one million insects 

 daily. These were taken in and near the vicinity of 

 the town. Comment on the action of the authorities 

 of that town is needless. 



Mr Eustace Montgomery, the late Director of 

 Veterinary Research in South Africa, stated in 19 19 

 that the annual losses of stock farmers in the Union 

 of South Africa from preventable diseases were not less 

 than ^8,000,000. 



These stock diseases, with but few exceptions, are 

 due to injection of disease microbes through the 

 mediumship of insects and allied forms of life. This 

 does not end the trouble. Our indifference to the 

 welfare of our bird allies results in an abnormal increase 

 in the numbers of insects which destroy pasturage 

 and crops, bringing about an insufficiency of food for 

 stock animals. The lucerne caterpillar, for instance, 



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