— od — 



man, this balance between animal and plant life is seldom set 

 to vibrating. Not only do birds feed upon the insects that would 

 destroy these various plants if left to themselves, but they also 

 pick up the extra seeds of weeds that are so thickly strewn over 

 the surface of the ground. Here too do birds assist in keeping 

 things balanced. 



Birds are intelligent creatures; are provided with musical 

 voices, beautiful forms, ga}^ dresses, and, as a rule, with 

 delightful tempers. The}" are just such creatures as can best 

 endear themselves to the human race. They do not come 

 " a begging '" for their keep on account of these pleasing 

 characters which tlie}' possess and give us the benefit of. Far 

 from it. Instead of aslcing pay for the cheer ihey carry with 

 them wherever tliey go, they pay well for the privilege of 

 making us feel happy. They are not confined to one locality 

 or a comparatively restricted area like most other animals, 

 but b_v means of their Avings can go where they choose or 

 where duty calls. Neither are birds without judgment. When 

 food of a good quality is plentiful, they do not waste time in 

 searching for that which is scarce. If some particular insect 

 becomes abnormall}^ abundant, this is the one attacked in 

 preference to others until it, lilce the others, has become 

 normal in number. 



In their fooJ-habits, birds like all other animals, have their 

 preferences. Hence, we find that some particular ones, among 

 the many, are especially fond of locusts as a diet ; and that 

 these often leave home and family to find and feed upon the 

 locusts-warms. An example of this fondness for a particular 

 kind of insect food can be seen in the great flocks of the large 

 brownish hawk or buzzard known in the country as "gavilán". 

 These birds are always to he found where there are mangas 

 of the destructive locust. They gorge themselves till they can 

 scarcely fly. Yet in an hour or so, they again " Jill up " with 

 locusts, and keep on doing so day after da}-. I have known a 

 flock of these birds to completely exterminate a very large 

 manga of the saltonas of pdraiieiisis in a few days, onh' to 

 remove to another, not far distant, where they are engaged in 

 killing and eating locusts as these lines are being penned. 



Others of our birds like the "Carancho", "Chimango". "Gav- 

 iotas", "Ostrich", "Martineta", '"Perdiz" and "Perincha" or 

 "Urraca" are likewise great lovers of a locust-diet; and it is 

 through their services chiefly that the native locusts or "tucu- 

 ras" are not more frequently destructive. 



