SHELTER TO INSECTIVOROUS BIRDS. 171 



most precious aids to the farmer, are nevertheless almost everyw-bcre treated as ene- 

 mies. The liusbaudmau, overlooking the constant services which they render to him, 

 Bees only the damages which they may do ; children pursue them to extermination, 

 either by taking them with snares or by destroying their nests, and these allies, whom 

 foreigners come to purchase, for the purpose of acclimating with them at home, aro 

 gradually disappearing from our fields. 



Various circulars have already been addressed to the inspectors of academies, and 

 many notices inserted in the Bulletin Ad7ninis1ratif of our ministry, with the view 

 of stopping this destruction. Nevertheless, I feel it my duty to respond to the request 

 made by my colleagues, by again claiming the concurrence of teachers. 



I therefore pray you to address instructions to all the instructors in your depart- 

 ment, that they shall teach their pupils to distinguish ihe insects injurious to agiicul- 

 ture from those which aro useful, and that they encourage the c.hildreu to destroy the 

 former and protect the latter. 



Teachers should also make their children understand that the destruction of birds' 

 nests is injuring their own interests, as well as the interests of their families, and that 

 in doing so, they show themselves both improvident and ungrateful. They should be re- 

 minded at the same time that by doing so they expose themselves to severe penalties. 

 The law of January 22, 1874, which iierfects and amends the one passed May '.^, 18)4, 

 upon the police of hunting, in fact gives to prefects the powers necessary to iJreveut tbo 

 destruction of birds, and to favor tlieir increase. Prefectoral decrees have been issued 

 to this end, and persons violating these orders are liable to a fine varying from IG to 

 100 francs.— (1874, art II, Law of May.) 



Teachers should also, as opportunities occur, remind the heads of families that they 

 are doing themselves very serious injury by allowing the destruction of nests, and that 

 they are themselves responsible for the damages which their children may commit iu 

 this manner. 



I will add, that in some communes that I might mention teachera have acted upon 

 the happy idea of organizing among their pupils societies for the protection of useful 

 auimals. Such associations have rendered much service, and it would give me pleasure 

 to see their number increased. 



I attach, sir, the most serious desire for the execution of this circular, of which I 

 pray you will notify me of the receipt. 



Receive, sir, the assurance of my very distinguished consideration. 



The ministry of public instruction and the fine arts. 



WADDINGTON. 



Various articles have also been inserted iu the official bulletins en- 

 forcing the ifuportauce of the subject, and tending to excite a spirit of 

 gentleness and sympathy toward these useful allies of the field. Our 

 sjiace will not admit of detailed notice of this iuiportant sul ject as ii 

 matter of European legislation and official protection. 



Upon this subject, the Journal cV Agriculture et W Horticulture de la 

 Gironde makes the following refiections : 



The truth is that small birds are disappearing more and more, and that races are be- 

 coming extinct. At this moment you might ofter for blackbirds 1,000 francs the dozen, 

 and the most skillful fowler would not guarantee to furnish one in the department of 

 Girondo. But what destroyers of insects were these very birds ! It is enough to see 

 with what industry they will jieck among the mosses in the fields, to give an idea of 

 the innumerable number of larvce of cock-chafers, worms, caterpillars, and other 

 gnawing insects that they consume. 



The nightingales, linnets, tom-tits, green-finches, red-throats, swallows, and sparrows 

 are destroyed by myriads every day Ijy instruments of every kind, and especially by 

 the kind called " jmntes." In the department of Bases-Pyr6i3(5cs, across which the 

 birds make their principal migrations, every fifld has this contrivance in operation, 

 and it is not uncommon upon favorable days to see a hunter return with his game-bag 

 filled with some dozens of little birds. 



And at the same time we complain of the ravages of worms in ears of corn, and dam- 

 ages of all kinds to the buds of our vines, exudation of gum, damaged grapes, all 

 caused by enemies which the vine-dresser may seek in vain, because they escar»e his eye, 

 and can only be destroyed by agencies which his eye ca not reach ; i)ut an instinct, 

 keener than his own, knows how to iind them, and from morning till night i)ur8ue3 

 them into their most secret retreats with a perseverance that never tires. If the little 

 birds were spared, they would soon perform their useful ofiice to the extent to which 

 nature has designed them. 



It is trjly alarming to see brought into our cities so many sacks full of poor little 

 birds, which afibrd but a trifling amount of food for man, and which render such val- 

 uable services by dtstroying millions of insects, whose ravages may be esiimated at 



