Te ee 
ON THE DESTRUCTION OF BIRDS. 135 
but a few weeks more, and the caterpillars came rapidly; the 
leaves disappeared from each tree in succession, the fruit shrivelled, 
and notwithstanding I tried lime, and salt-and-water, the 
caterpillars finished them off, and then, dropping from them, took 
up another form of existence. Then came chaffers in their turn, 
and instead of songs I had plenty of buzz. The cabbages were 
eaten up by the green caterpillars, and the beans and roses by 
aphides. I determined to alter my tack for another year by 
vowing never wilfully to destroy another bird about my ground ; 
and I have had my reward. Ihave not had mischief from the 
grub and caterpillar tribe for the three last seasons; I have 
plenty of company and plenty of song. My plan is to procure 
some of the smallest shot, and with this shoot flying, just as 
you find the birds have caught the flavour of the fruit you wish 
to preserve ; you will soon find that they can confabulate; and 
if you pay attention, you may soon understand their language as 
you slyly attempt to repeat the warning. Like boys, they will 
try it on a short time, but finding you are in earnest, the fruit 
will remain unmolested on the trees, and your conscience free 
from the thought of having destroyed a friend. But leave the 
fruit unguarded, and a combined attack is sure to follow. This 
is all settled in a council of birds; for they, like an attacking 
army, know that scouts are necessary, who give the alarm on the 
least appearance of danger. 
Of the good birds do in the destruction of noxious insects a few 
anecdotes will suffice. One day seeing a cock Sparrow actively 
employed about fifty yards from me, near a large stone in the 
road, I was curious to know his business. By the aid of a 
small telescope I brought him close tomy eye; he had a large 
cockchaffer, and this he took up and dashed with all his might 
against the stone. I saw part of the chaffer’s mailed coat fly off 
at every blow, and the soft body, when wholly divested, was borne 
off as a choice morsel for the Sparrow’s young. I then went and 
examined the fragments; they consisted of the broken wings 
and shield of the luckless chaffer: 
