BIRDS AND MAN 



more than any possible harm which an injudicious indulgence 

 in the juicy fruits of summer might bring about. 



The sparrow cannot be given a character. Indeed, he is 

 objectionable in every way, for he not only does no good 

 himself, but he devours corn and drives away starlings and 

 other valuable and interesting helpers. 



But it is very difficult to say what will happen if man 

 interferes with the regular working of Nature. The starling 

 has been a pest in Australia, though here it does nothing 

 but good work. We are still grossly ignorant of many 

 simple but very important facts. Even when we do know 

 something, as for instance, that the peewifs or plover"'s 

 whole life is occupied in clearing the ground of wireworm, 

 daddy-long-legs grub, insects'* eggs, and the like, that does 

 not help the bird in the least. Plovers' eggs are regularly 

 sold in enormous quantities. Every farm-labourer collects 

 them, and the farmer never dreams of interfering. 



Man shoots down owls, kestrels, hawks, who prey upon 

 mice, voles, and sparrows. Then, when some farmers are 

 half ruined, he has Royal Commissions to find out why the 

 voles have increased so much. 



There are one or two peculiar contrivances found in plants 

 which are intended to keep off insects, and which may be 

 noticed here. 



Thus, the importance of a moat (which almost always 

 formed part of the defence of a medieval castle) had been 

 already found out by one or two plants. 



In a particular kind of Teazle and in a large Sunflower- 

 like Composite (Silphium laciniatum) every pair of two 

 opposite leaves run together, so that a little cup-like hollow 

 is formed surrounding the stem, in which water collects. 

 Insects climbing up the stem and trying to get at the heads 



