VALUE OF BIRDS TO MAN — BUCKLAND. 449 



THE SERVICES OF THE BIRD IN THE GARDEN. 



The garden is the insect's paradise. It fares sumptuously every 

 day on the most succulent of vegetable foods. Every opportunity is 

 thus offered for its increase. The greatest insect enemy of the gar- 

 dener is a small, dull-colored, hairless caterpillar known as the cut- 

 worm, which is the larva of a Noctuid moth. This chief of the 

 brigand band of garden pests usually hides during the day beneath 

 matted grass or under the loose soil along the rows of plants. It 

 comes forth at dusk to feed. The bird is abroad at the first peep of 

 day, and it finds the robber worm in the morning before it has 

 retreated to its place of concealment. 



But the early bird has to come stealthily to the garden to catch the 

 worm. Its visits are regarded by man with more than suspicion, and 

 it is fortunate if it escapes with its life. In consequence it snaps up a 

 caterpillar and is off again, leaving thousands it would have eaten, 

 if unmolested, to run riot amongst the vegetables. 



Occasionally a bird more bold than its fellows will visit the garden 

 in broad daylight to dig the cutworms out of their hiding places. 

 Nature never having begrudged it the reward of its toil, the bird 

 takes a few peas before leaving. 



The gardener notices the damage done to his peas, and next morn- 

 ing is up betimes. He sees the bird running along a row of peas, 

 stopping frequently to peck at something on the ground. There is 

 a loud explosion, followed by a puff of smoke. The smoke slowly 

 drifts away, to disclose a bird lying dead. 



Caterpillars are not gifted with voice; if they were, they would 

 scarce forbear to cheer. 



The bird is dead. Mark the sequel. One fine morning the gardener 

 issues proudly forth to cut his mammoth cabbage — the one with which 

 he intends to put to utter confusion all other competitors at the local 

 fruit and flower show. Alas for human hopes and the depredations 

 of caterpillars. The cabbage is riddled lil^e a colander. 



The gardener when he shot the bird forgot, if, indeed, he ever 

 knew, that the ancient law forbade a muzzle to the ox that thrashed 

 out the corn. 



UTILITY OF BIRDS IN THE MEADOW. 



Each season, until hay making commences, the grass offers cover 

 and shelter for the nests of such birds as breed on the ground. The 

 fields also provide food for birds, and for the insects on which birds 

 feed. Thus there is established a natural interrelation and interde- 

 pendence between the bird and its food and shelter — that is to say, 

 the insects and the grass. This simulates the condition of the earth 

 before man made discord in the grand harmony of nature's laws. 

 44863°— SM 1913 29 



