The Economic Importance of Birds. 9 



CHAPTER IV. 



THE ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE OF BIRDS. 



" The feeling seems to be practically universal that birds as, a 

 class, notwithstanding their sins t still do more good than harm." 



F. E. L. BEAL (17, p. 13). 



From the earliest times man has recognised that there existed 

 a relationship between the birds of the air and his crops. Ancient 

 records show that certain species were regarded as injurious and 

 certain species beneficial, and means were devised to destroy the 

 one and protect the other. But it is only in, comparatively, recent 

 years that the economic importance of birds has been realised and 

 their habits scientifically studied. 



In the United Kingdom reliable statistics as to the nature and 

 quantity of the food required by the different species, have been 

 few, and in most instances the number of individuals examined of 

 a particular species has been too small, and the examination often 

 having taken place during a particular month or season, the con- 

 clusions drawn have naturally been faulty or inconclusive. 



The subject is one hedged round with difficulties, as Professor 

 Theobald (109) remarks: "The subject of the economic status of 

 wild birds is one that has to be approached in so many different 

 ways that it is almost impossible to formulate any satisfactory plan 

 of treating this important matter." " It must, however, be borne 

 in mind that, in nearly all cases, the misdeeds of birds are much 

 more manifest than the benefits they confer upon us." "Birds 

 affect both sides of the farmer's balance sheet to an almost incal- 

 culable extent. Unfortunately, the means by which they reduce 

 the profits of cultivation are only too apparent, whilst the good 

 services rendered by them, both on the farm and in the garden, are 

 in many cases only diecernable by those who have studied their ways 

 very thoroughly, and who have besides a fair knowledge of insect 

 pests, and their boundless power for evil." (3). 



It is now generally agreed that, with perhaps one or two 

 exceptions, the wholesale destructon of birds for the purpose of 

 protecting crops and orchards is, economically, an unsound policy. 

 Conditions which in one district may tend to make a species des- 

 tructive or even injurious, do not obtain in another, where the 

 same species is equally beneficial. Again, many birds are distinctly 

 injurious at certain seasons of the year only and equally beneficial 

 at others. In these cases it is very important that we should 



