This unfortunately he not only is not, but too 
often, perhaps, unconsciously becomes a party to 
the birds’ destruction. 
During the season of 1913 from our own and 
adjoining States came the anxious oft-repeated 
call, “What can be done to save our growing 
crops? In meadow and field the white grub bur- 
rowing in the ground beyond the reach of me- 
chanical device is destructively at work.” 
Prompt response through the press came to this 
query. Entomologists and laymen proclaimed 
and explained but no direct or specific answer 
was given. . 
An anxious inquirer in a communication to 
the New York Times, describing the destructive 
work of the white grub in the city park and 
botanical garden, gave suggestive answers when 
he explained, “ The starlings in the park, until 
the white grub appeared, were not earning their 
salt as insect destroyers, but now they are show- 
ing they are equal to the task and that the grub 
is very sweet to their taste.” 
Here we have reliable assurance in unity with 
the ways of nature, when there is no interference 
of man. The starlings were doing the work for 
which they were better adapted than man and 
his mechanical devices. Our despised crow 
would do the same thing. 
Again the handwriting on the wall — “ Recall 
and protect the birds.” Man may destroy or 
drive the birds away, but he cannot change the 
laws of nature, nor put in their place laws of 
85 
