BIRDS AXD EEPORT OF COMMITTEE. 7 



The last-named gentleman gives two in- 

 stances of crops being saved by starlings. 



As regards the seed-eating birds, these gen- 

 erally feed their young upon insects, while if 

 we reflect that every seed which they eat, ex- 

 cept those which man actually sows himself in 

 his fields and gardens, will probably grow up as 

 a weed, their services in destroying these are 

 enormous. We have then only to protect our 

 seed-beds for a few days after sowing, and our 

 fruits and corn crops for a few weeks when ripe 

 before we gather them ; and these birds are 

 equally our benefactors all the rest of the year. 

 Yet we very generally destroy them because 

 they cannot resist our delicious fruits and 

 the golden harvest which we spread before them 

 so temptingly. Surely tliis is unworthy of the 

 nineteenth century, and after all that we now 

 know of their habits. Our corn crops must be 

 protected by bird-boys, and the expense of doing 

 this effectually should not be grudged. The 

 poor little urchin we so often see, not so very 



