[879] REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 29 



" Turdus\) especially comes in for a good share of reprobation 

 " during the season of Small Fruits. Nevertheless, we see no 

 "reason to doubt the value even of this fruit-loving bird, if 

 " proper means are taken to protect the fruit during its ripen- 

 "ing. A little shooting goes a long way." It does that! in 

 Worcester carrying you to the Police Court. 



A naturalist — he defines the distinction between their habits 

 — seldom observed or stated with such clearness ; and which, if 

 preserved, would modify objection to their increase or diffusion : 

 " The Swallow, Swift, and Night-hawk, are the guardians of the 

 ."atmosphere. Woodpeckers, creepers, &c., &c., are the guard- 

 " ians of the trunks of trees. Warblers and fly-catchers protect 

 " the foliage. Blackbirds, crows, thrushes, and larks, protect 

 " the surface of the soil. Snipe and woodcock protect the soil 

 " under the surface. It is a fact that nearly all birds are more 

 " or less beneficial in destroying forms of life which, when in 

 "excess, are wonderfully destructive to crops." 



" When in excess ! " Aye: but when the birds themselves 

 are in excess — what sort of negative can you make of these 

 two affirmatives .-' " Qtds custodiet custodes ?" 



Never were all forms of insect-life more numerous or unmo- 

 lested, in Massachusetts, whose legislation is annually invoked 

 in wider protection of all that is winged and worthless. 



Among the defects in the lamb-like character of your Secre- 

 tary, forgetfulness is not conspicuous. Shall an Annual Report 

 to this Society omit all mention of the Turdus migratorius ? 

 HarJc ! to a writer, in the American Agriculturist, from Connec- 

 ticut, whose eyes are partially open : " This is a comely bird — 

 "a fair singer and early; an industrious hunter of insects. 

 " After his brood is hatched, he eschews his old provender and 

 " brings up his whole family upon the costliest products of the 

 " garden. In June, he sits on the fence and eyes the growth of 

 " fruit ; then gorges successively strawberries, cherries, cur- 

 " rants, raspberries, and grapes." 



Seeing the evil thus clearly — what remedy does he suggest } 

 Why, the very simplest : When you are not fishing for men- 

 haden, protect your garden with the seine ! 



