XXVIII 
HOW HE WORKS FOR US 
Many times in this book I have spoken of the 
great value of the services of birds, in helping us 
destroy insects and weeds that injure our crops. 
But there is more to be said about it. 
From morning till night, almost the whole of 
his life, nearly every bird is working for us. He 
does not know he is working for us, of course. 
He is simply hunting for the food he hkes, and 
what is good for young birds to eat. 
But what he chooses to eat himself, and to 
feed the young, consists mostly of creatures that 
destroy our fruit and vegetables, caterpillars that 
eat the leaves off our trees, worms that get into 
our apples and berries, beetles that spoil our 
roses and our potatoes, mice that eat our crops, 
and all the worms and grubs that gardeners and 
farmers are all the time fighting. 
As I have already said, some of the birds hke 
cherries and green peas, and other things we 
prefer to keep for ourselves. But we should 
