NATURAL ENEMIES OF BIRDS 



If a mighty host of armed men attacked us, and our 

 very existence was threatened, we would gladly avail 

 ourselves of proffered help from an ally to beat back 

 the foe. Under such circumstances would we be 

 justified in turning in fury upon our ally because a 

 few hungry individuals of the army fighting for us 

 took a little food now and then from those on whose 

 behalf they were fighting ? Assuredly not. Yet this 

 is what we are doing with the birds, which are not 

 only helping us in the fight against the ravening 

 hordes of insects, but which are actually doing nine- 

 tenths of the fighting. 



" The greatest of all needs is more education of the heart." 

 — Hiram Maxim. 



NATURAL ENEMIES OF BIRDS 



All forms of life on earth have their natural enemies 

 which prevent any increase in numbers beyond the 

 requirements of Nature. A constant warfare is being 

 waged. It is indeed a struggle for the survival of 

 the fittest, both mentally and physically. The struggle 

 for food and the dread of falling a prey to some enemy 

 keeps all creatures from stagnating. Those individuals 

 of a species which have a greater measure of intelligence 

 and bodily vigour than others of their kind are the 

 most likely ones to survive and perpetuate the race, 

 resulting in the conservation and preservation of 

 vol. i. 161 II 



