S8 THE GLORY OF THE GARDEN 



turbed, will dispose of a large number of snails; he 

 usually selects and keeps one flat stone on which to 

 break the shell of the snail and get at the dainty 

 morsel within. And one hears the steady crack- 

 crack of the snail being beaten against the stone 

 by the thrush's strong beak. 



The chaffinch and the greenfinch feed on weeds 

 and small caterpillars, being most active in tracking 

 down the latter. Starlings feed on worms, leather- 

 jackets, and practically any soil grubs. Robins 

 and wrens are very fond of worms and small insects. 

 The house-sparrow, our much-maligned friend, 

 whom many people would like to exterminate 

 altogether because (they say) he is so utterly 

 useless, lives very largely on grubs and other insects. 

 The seagull is very partial to leather-jackets and 

 wireworms, whenever he can find any, and the 

 magpie and the owl feed on mice, voles, and all 

 surface caterpillars. 



Surely if these birds render us such excellent 

 service in attacking the chief pests that infest our 

 crops we ought not to begrudge their levying a 

 toll on a few fruits as a reward for their services. 



Think of the dreary picture that Longfellow 

 paints for us if we really did succeed in trapping 

 and killing all the birds out of our gardens ! 



" Think of your woods and orchards without birds ! 



Of empty nests that cling to boughs and beams, 

 As in an idiot's brain remembered words 



Hang empty 'mid the cobwebs of his dreams ! 

 Will bleat of flocks or bellowing of herds 



Make up for the lost music, when your teams 

 Drag home the stingy harvest, and no more 

 The feathered gleaners follow to your door ? 



