206 HABITS OF BIRDS. 



tion of the crows. Such rewards are common hi 

 America, and from a document given by Wilson, 

 respecting a proposal made in Delaware " for banish- 

 ing or destroying the crows," it appears that the 

 money thus expended sometimes amounts to no in- 

 considerable sum. The document concludes by say- 

 ing, " The sum of five hundred dollars being thus 

 required, the committee beg leave to address the far- 

 mers and others of Newcastle county and elsewhere 

 on the subject*." 



From its sometimes eating grain and other seeds, 

 4< the rook," says Selby, " has erroneously been viewed 

 in the light of an enemy by most husbandmen ; and 

 in several districts, attempts have been made either 

 to banish it, or to extirpate the breed. But wherever 

 this measure has been carried into effect, the most 

 serious injury to the corn and other crops has inva- 

 riably followed, from the unchecked devastations of 

 the grub and caterpillar. As experience is the sure 

 test of utility, a change of conduct has in consequence 

 been partially adopted ; and some farmers now find 

 the encouragement of the breed of rooks to be greatly 

 to their interest, in freeing their lands from the grub 

 of the cockchafer (Melolontha vulgaris), an insect 

 very abundant in many of the southern counties. In 

 Northumberland I have witnessed its usefulness in 

 feeding on the larvae of the insect commonly known 

 by the name of Harry Longlegs (Tipula oleracea), 

 which is particularly destructive to the roots of grain 

 and young clovers f." 



It has on similar grounds been contended, that 

 the great number of birds caught by bird-catchei 

 particularly in the vicinity of London, has been pi 

 ductive of much injury to gardens and orchards, 

 serious has this evil appeared to some, that it has 



* Am. Ornith. iv. 84, note. 

 f Illustrations, p. 73. 



ers, 



T, 



