176 YEAKBOOK OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



As a means of checking these introduced insect pests, as well as 

 native ones, birds are of vast importance. Yet it must be remem- 

 bered that, when once the reproductive powers of insects have had 

 full play and an invasion occurs, the farmer can not suddenly aug- 

 ment the number of birds and summon the winged hosts to his aid. 

 Birds reproduce but slowly, and in the natural course of events often 

 suffer immense losses during their migrations, by climatic extremes 

 and through the assaults of birds of prey and predaceous mammals. 

 Hence a marked increase in the number of birds, either as a class 

 or in the case of a given species, must come slowly and as a result 

 of favoring conditions extending over a term of years. Moreover, 

 as stated above, birds alone are inadequate to cope with sudden in- 

 sect irruptions. It is their province rather by incessant watchful- 

 ness and constant warfare to prevent over-production of insect life 

 rather than to reduce excess, although in the latter regard their aid 

 is important. It is the part of prudence, therefore, to protect useful 

 birds at all times, and so to augment their numbers that they may 

 constantly play their respective parts in the police system ordained 

 by nature and be ready, when emergency arises, to wage active and 

 aggressive warfare against sudden invasions of insect enemies. 



PROTECTION OF BIRDS FROM MAN. 



Most of our States have laws which, if fully enforced, would go 

 far to secure adequate protection for birds. The wholesale destruc- 

 tion of our songsters and insectivorous birds for millinery purposes 

 has been largely stopped, although even now in some States the 

 statutes are frequently violated by unprincipled bird hunters for the 

 sake of gain. But laws, while wholesome and necessary, are not so 

 effective for the protection of birds as is an enlightened public senti- 

 ment. In a country like our own, where education is general, a 

 knowledge of the part birds play in the economy of nature is more 

 effective for their protection than are any laws, however well ad- 

 ministered. Instruction of this kind should be given to every school 

 child in the land, and it is gratifying to note that the importance of 

 this practical side of nature study is fast being recognized by educa- 

 tors. When the value of birds is universally known and they are 

 everywhere, cherished as friends, protective laws will be compara- 

 tively unimportant. 



In this connection brief allusion may be made to a class of immi- 

 grants to our shores who are ignorant both of our laws and of the 

 need for enforcing them, and who look upon birds, large and small, 

 only as food. Cheap guns and ammunition in the hands of these 

 newcomers furnish means for the indiscriminate slaughter of birds 

 for the pot, and public sentiment is either not recognized or is ignored. 

 Nothing but strict laws, rigidly and impartially enforced, can save 

 our birds from these pot hunters. 



