i=-^i^ar II. 



BIRDS INSECTIVOROUS AND VERMIN 

 DESTROYING. 



While submitting a plea for the protection of birds that 

 give their quota of help in the subjection of animals termed 

 " noxious," I do so with some diffidence regarding certain of 

 them. Crows and Hawks have the popular opinion against 

 them, but I feel it is not too much to say that many of 

 them are absolutely necessary in the order of things, and in 

 particular to the agriculturist. Upon careful inquiry about 

 the Crows and Ravens that inhabit each of our colonies, I 

 find they are highly insectivorous, and make excellent 

 scavengers. It is just a little unfortunate that they are not 

 as virtuous as they are wise, that vice, cruelty, being rather 

 strongly developed. 



The genera Dacelo, Halcyon, and Podargus, acting partly 

 under this head, have been specially referred to in the first 

 part. Herons, Egrets, Spoonbills, Ibises, Plovers, Bitterns, 

 Dottrels, and Rails, other than being destroyers of crust- 

 aceans, grasshoppers, moist-land insects, and other vermin, 

 are harmless in the interests of the agriculturist. These 

 several birds may safely be considered in this section. 



