154 BOARD OF AGRICLXXrRK. ^ Pub. Doc. 



subject for iuciuiry. These questions cau ouly be answered 

 by the experience of the future. 



The most important conclusion that has been confirmed 

 by these two years of bird study is that the Corvidce (crows 

 and jays) are very largely responsible for the decrease of 

 the smaller birds. I am well aware that some investigators 

 will not agree with this conclusion : but it has been forced 

 upon me by the experience of thirty years and the corrob- 

 orative observations of the last two years. Xo one can 

 doubt that in the great plan of nature these birds fill well 

 their place. Their usefulness as insect destroyers is well 

 known : but where they become too numerous, their supply 

 of insect food is soon so limited that they must turn to 

 other sources for a good part of their animal food :'then 

 smaller birds and young chickens sufter. Could the crows 

 and jays hold in check those insects that, in consequence 

 of the destruction of small birds, are allowed to increase, 

 then the destructive propensities of the crow family need 

 not be viewed with alarm. That they can do this is im- 

 probable. By protection, we have made it possible for 

 these birds to increase. TTe must remove this protection, 

 or remove the surplus Corvidce. 



DoitESTic Fowls as Ixsect Desteotees. 



Common fowls, if rightly handled, may be made most 

 useful as insect destroyers in garden and field. We utilize 

 the services of youmg chicks in the garden by keeping the 

 mother hens confined there in small coops along the bor- 

 ders. Then each brood of little chicks can have the run of 

 that part of the garden nearest the coop, as well as the 

 grass near by. Young chicks, kept in this way, soon learn 

 to eat such garden pests as are turned up by the plow or 

 other garden implements. They are fond of small cater- 

 pillars, maggots and cabbage plant lice, and some of them 

 will leam to eat the small larvse of the potato beetles. 

 TVith us they have not learned to eat the melon plant lice 

 or the squash insects. But few birds of any kind have 

 been seen to eat these pests. 



Young chicks may be safely kept in gardens until five 



