288 AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 



It is not the more familiar species only wliich instinctively seek man's pro- 

 tection. Even the shy and retiring forest birds will sometimes do so in seasons 

 of extreme peril. I have seen the timid and wary pheaaunt, (Bonassa umhtl- 

 lus,J when pursued by a hawk, alight on the ground within six feet of my door, 

 where I was standing, and quietly remain until the danger had passed by, ap- 

 parently well assured that the enemy would not molest it while there, and 

 rightly judging that I would not betray the confidence reposed in me by doing 

 it an injury. 



It would, indeed, seem irreverent to Him who gave them for us to doubt or 

 to disbelieve that the instincts referred to were intended by their Divine Author 

 to establish and maintain a reciprocal interest between the birds which possess 

 them and ourselves, and to promote the welfare of both. " Both are as the 

 Lord hath made them; organized and controlled by laws as wise as himself; 

 universal as his presence ; and potent as his power. He who assails these 

 laws assails Deity himself." 



Now, if it be so that the birds were designed to maintain the balance of in- 

 sect life, and prevent their inordinate increase, how unwise in us to break the 

 balauciug power by their wanton destruction ! But the birds have been cruelly 

 and most unwisely persecuted. The balance has been broken, and an increase 

 of destructive insects from year to year has been the consequence. The ques- 

 tion then arises, how shall we restore the balance which has been lost? 

 The simple answer is, as in every other case of wrongdoing, "cease to do evil; 

 learn to do well." Cease to violate the laws of nature, and of nature's God, by 

 the destruction of these his creatures, and by every available means afford 

 them protection, and promote their comfort and consequent multiplication. 



But to whom shall the plea for their protection be addressed 1 It is not the 

 cultivator of the soil alone who sustains loss from the depredations of insects 

 upon his crops. When these fail the supply is diminished, and the market value 

 enhanced. Hence the consumer suffers along with the producer. The appeal, 

 therefore, comes home to every one who subsists on the productions of the soil. 

 It affects the pecuniary interests and the life comforts, not only of him who holds 

 the plough, but of the merchant at his desk, and the cobbler in his stall. It is 

 made, not to a class, but to the whole community. Nevertheless, the owners 

 and occupiers of the soil — the agricultural class — hold a position which seems, 

 necessarily, to constitute them the special guardians of the feathered race. To 

 them, therefore, I particularly address this special plea. 



Appeals for the birds have often been made, and have as often passed un- 

 heeded. Their constantly diminished numbers still suffer unmerited persecution, 

 and the complaints of noxious insects grow louder and stronger from year to 

 year. Why is it so ? Are men so wilfully blind to their own interests ? Or 

 has the evidence furnished been insufficient to convince their understandings 

 that the birds are really their friends and benefactors 1 This seems the most 

 rational conclusion. Farmers, as a class, cannot be called scientific, but they 

 are intelligent, reflecting, practical men, accustomed to look after their oAvn ih- 

 terests ; and if convinced that those interests lie in the protection of the birds, 

 I have a better opinion of them than to suppose that they would not adopt a 

 practice correspondent therewith. 



Under this feeling of confidence in the good sense of the fanning community, 

 I have undertaken the preparation of this plea on behalf of the birds. Perad- 

 venture a brief detail of facts may satisfy the reason, while mere inferences 

 drawn from them Avould fail to do so. 



Let every farmer and occupier of the soil cease from the needless destruction 

 of birds, their eggs and nests, and consider himself as their Heaven-appointed 

 guardian. Let every one be careful, according to his o])portunity and means, 

 to provide for their Avants by putting up suitable boxes for martins, bluebirds, 

 wrens, &c.. and by planting shrubbery and trees, especially evergreens, to af- 



