74 Mr. F. Thoniscn on 



hurt internally by the .spikes on the ^toiit hind legs of the 

 adult locust. I have seen reports of Turkeys dying after 

 gorging themselves with locusts In a dry state and pounded 

 up I do not think they would do any harm. 



The idea of breeding locust-eating birds and using them 

 in the locust-destruction campaign has often been brought 

 forward. I think this would be quite impracticable : the 

 food question, and in consequence the expense, would be 

 enormous. Every enterprising farmer could do something 

 of this kind on a small scale himself. When it is known that 

 locusts have deposited their eggs on the farm, the farmer 

 could collect fowls, ducks, geese, or tame Guinea Fowls and 

 have them in readiness for the first rains. When the voet- 

 gangers appear above ground, he could move his poultry in 

 portable houses to the s})ot on the farm where they are 

 hatching, open the doors and let the birds roam about. A 

 few pigs would help, in so far as they turn up the soil where 

 the eggs are laid and so facilitate scratching and foraging for 

 the birds. Water must be supplied, and very little grain- 

 food, close to the roosting-houses ; it would also be advisable 

 to keep a guard near by to drive off birds-of-j^rey or other 

 vermin. 



Before closing this paper I would like to say a few words 

 on the protection of birds. Game-birds have a certain time 

 during which they are protected by law, but the other birds 

 are free to be shot. How often wanton destruction takes 

 place in towns and on farms : small boys with catapults 

 and grown-up people with guns are seen killing birds for 

 pastime ! 



I would not advocate having laws passed prohibiting the 

 wanton killing of birds. No ! what is wanted is a more 

 general, a more thorough education, on the utility of these 

 feathered friends, not alone in all schools but also at home 

 and in newspapers. A law without education does not help : 

 the public must first know and feel that our winged allies are 

 deserving of some recognition. 



