112 Mr. J. Bucklaiul on 



stampeded by these tormenting creatures, wliicli carry 

 disease and death among them. Another great aftiietion is 

 the warble, which is a small tumour produced by the larva 

 of the gadfly on the backs of cattle, and the constant 

 irritation of which causes considerable deijreciution in the 

 value of hides, besides a lessened quantity and poorer quality 

 of beef. 



Horses, sheep, and other farm animals are subject to the 

 attacks of similar parasites and other persecuting insect 

 foes. 



If it were not for the services the bird renders in alighting 

 on animals in search of these parasites, or in catching the 

 flies on the wing, or in eating them in their embryo state, 

 man would be unable to keep his livestock. 



More than this, man himself would be unable to inhabit 

 many places on the earth which he now cultivates, or where 

 he carries on other lucrative industries. 



For every fly-catching or parasite-eating bird of the 

 untold thousands that are now allowed to be killed. Nature's 

 fitdit for the care of her children is weakened by the loss of 

 a very active agent. 



Not long ago Sir Harry Johnston told us that the con- 

 tinual destruction of certain birds in Africa for their plumage 

 was resulting in the increase of the venomous tsetse-fly» 

 whose bite carries the infection of that dread disease, sleep- 

 ing sickness. 



The Bird as a Weed Destroyer. 



Uncjuestionably weeds serve a useful purpose in Nature, 

 but that par])03e is not the occuj)ation of cultivated land. 

 Without check tluty would speedily elioke all ^rain to 

 death. 



Constant use of harrows and hoes will do much on larm 

 lands and in gardens to keep down weeds, but as most earth 

 is full of weed seed, which retains its vitality for years, the 

 life of tli(! tiller of the soil is one continuotis struggle against 

 these troublesome plants. In thi^lialtle the bird is of great 



