AGRICULTURAL ORNITHOLOGY. 289 



ford them shelter from their enemies, and a place to build and rear their young. 

 Let every child be taught to admire the beauty, and to know the value, of 

 birds, and the sanctity of their nests, and be made to feel the penalty for dis- 

 obedience. Let every vagrant sjDortsman and truant schoolboy know and feel 

 the rigid restraints of the law* whenever they trespass upon the premises with dog 

 or gun after having been duly notified. 



The following extract taken from the Ohio Farmer several years ago is 

 worth preserving in this connexion : 



" On no pretext whatever should farmers and gardeners permit their birds to be disturbed. 

 Instead of killing; them, or frightening; them away, they should make use of every means in 

 their power to induce them to increase in numbers, and become more tame and familiar. Tho 

 worst of them earn twenty times what they eat ; and then what exquisite pleasure to 

 have your garden, yard, orchard, or wood alive and vocal with the music of merry birds ' 

 Plant trees lor them ; if necessary, build houses lor them ; and let no cat, dog, or boy ever 

 molest them, and they will teach you lessons of domestic bliss, preach you sermons, and 

 warble you such hymns as you never heard elsewhere. Be kind to the birds." 



In the preparation of this paper my primary object has been to furnish a brief 

 economical history of the ordinary food and feeding habits of the different species 

 of birds. I have also endeavored to make it an exponent of the ornithological 

 fauna of the district which it represents, thus interposing a connecting link be- 

 tween economical and scientific ornithology. It may be objected that the dis- 

 trict is too limited to afibrd satisfactory results. The objection is more specious 

 than real. Many of the Chester county birds are found throughout large por- 

 tions of the United States, Avhile others are replaced by kindred species pos- 

 sessing similar habits. To extend the basis, therefore, would greatly increase 

 the labor and cost, without adding much to the value of the work. 



THE PLAN. 



A system of classification has been adopted with the names of the families, 

 genera, and species, with their authors. Immediately after will be found the 

 common or familiar names. 



It is convenient to designate the species as — 



1. Constant residents. — Some portion, at least, of which remain with us 

 throughout the year. 



2. Summer residents. — Greater or less numbers of Avhich spend the summer 

 with us and breed. 



3. Winter residents. — Mostly northern species, which spend the severe part 

 of the year with us. 



4. Migratory. — Those birds which pass and repass in spring and autumn. 



5. Wandering. — Birds which migrate irregularly, wherever their food may 

 be most abundant. 



* Many States have made laws for the protection of birds. An act of the legislatui-e of 

 Pennsylvania, of April 21, 1858, provides: 



" Sec. L It shall not be lawful for any person within this commonwealth to shoot, kill, or 

 in any way trap or destroy any bluebird, swallow, martin, or any other insecticorous bird, 

 at any season of the year, under the penalty of two dollars." 



" Sec. 4. That no person shall at any time wilfully destroy the eggs or nests of any birds 

 mentioned in the different sections of this act, within this commonwealth, under a penalty of 

 two dollars lor each and every otieuce." 



" Sec. 6. And if the oii'ender shall refuse to pay the said forfeitures, he shall be committed 

 to the proper county jail, for every such oflence, for the space of two days, without bail, or 

 any maiirprize." 



Other birds are also protected, by this and other acts, as game birds. Much of this pro- 

 tection, however, is not intended to benefit the agriculturist, but to preserve the game for gen- 

 tlemen gunners, who pursue their sport in violation of the rights of the landholder, and 

 frequently to the injury of his property, other than by killing the birds. 



2.5 a 



