RA YAGERS OF CROPS 269 



It is impossible here to more than briefly 

 touch upon the subject of our insect foes as the 

 ravagers of crops ; indeed, it is in itself a subject 

 upon which one would need to write a very 

 bulky volume, to give anything like a detailed 

 description. The few examples I have been 

 able, in the space at my command, to describe, 

 will, I trust, have given my readers some idea 

 of the vast amount of damage that is caused 

 annually to our crops; of the economic import- 

 ance of a perfect knowledge of the life-histories 

 and habits of these insect foes ; and of the even 

 greater importance which attaches to the en- 

 couragement of trained scientific observation, 

 that we may become familiar with, and learn to 

 protect, the natural enemies of our insect foes. 

 Much might be done to help to hold these ravagers 

 of our crops in check, by an active legislation 

 which would render criminal the present sense- 

 less slaughter of insect-feeding birds. The exist- 

 ing Wild Birds' Protection Act has never been 

 properly administered, and throughout our rural 

 and agricultural districts is practically unknown, 

 or ignored, and to all intents and purposes is non- 

 existent, the village children being permitted 

 and frequently encouraged, to rob the nests and 

 destroy the eggs and young. If the school 

 authorities would teach children in country 

 districts to take an intelligent interest in their 

 natural surroundings, we should hear less of the 

 exodus from our agricultural districts to the 

 towns, with its consequent appalling effects 

 upon the race. 



