AGRICULTURAL USES OF BIRDS. 



951 



for about five months, and the young, say about three months. Certainly, at a very low 

 estimate, each bird would average twenty insects a day; for the food of these birds consists 

 entirely of insects. At this rate the old birds would have destroyed during their stay here, 



eighteen thousand insects, and the young thirty thousand six hundred, which gives a total of 

 forty-eight thousand six hundred insects destroyed from our own and our neighbor s trees; 

 and it did not take us half an hour to prepare and put up these simple accommodations. Are 

 not these facts eloquent ? Then how beautiful to watch the housekeeping arrangements of 

 these beautiful little neighbors; to hear their welcome song when winter seemed still with 

 us; to hear them debate the situation, and finally decide in favor of our apple-tree; to see 



them carrying up the grasses and cotton and feathers, and weaving them together into a bed 

 of down for the protection of their early-laid eggs; to watch their love-making, and all their 

 gentle, affectionate ways towards each other; their jealousy of intruders, and their solicitous 



