Allen on Insectivorous Birds. 2 7 



for impartial study, and for a cautious balancing of the evidence ; 

 for those who are least prepared to understand their own ignorance 

 to give attention to some of the conditions of the problem. What 

 the final outcome will be it is quite too early to predict ; what 

 seems most probable is that while some insect-destroying birds 

 may doubtless prove to be demonstrably beneficial to a greater or 

 less extent, many others will prove to hold merely a neutral posi-' 

 tion. while a few may be found to be to a slight degree injurious. 

 It is certainly time to abandon the ground that because certain 

 birds subsist largely upon insects they are necessarilv beneficial. 

 It seems not improbable that the role of insectivorous birds, con- 

 sidering the class collectively, will prove to be in no way econom- 

 ically important, and that it will be safe to leave nature to adjust 

 her own balance between birds and insects ; that undue inter- 

 ference, either in the way of protection or of proscription, will 

 tend rather to harm than to good But birds are to be considered 

 not merely with regard to dollars and cents— to the production of 

 grain and fruits; they have their aesthetic relation, and, sentiment 

 aside, we may long and wisely hesitate before outlawing even the 

 few species that may seem to somewhat overbalance their services 

 by indulgences which to some degree militate against man's material 

 interests. So much do the}- contribute to our higher enjoyment, 

 to such a degree is their presence a pleasure, and their influence 

 ennobling, it would be an aspersion upon our civilization to even 

 suppose that the time will soon come when public sentiment will 

 demand for trifling cause the extirpation of creatures so thoroughly 

 endowed with beauty, and with attributes that touch so deeply 

 our inner life. While we may well look forward with deep in- 

 terest to the results of thorough research in this direction, there 

 seems little reason for anxiety, even on the part of those who 

 would least welcome an unfavorable showing for their cherished 

 favorites of the bird world. 



