120 DA VET'S PRIMER 



As a result of unkindness to the birds they are afraid 

 of us. We are not only unkind But murderous. The 

 woodpeckers, as they once existed, were worth millions 

 of dollars annually ; but now, sad to say it, they have 

 been nearly all killed! Oh, how cruel! Alas! how 

 foolish we have been. Boys! instead of shooting or 

 stoning the birds begin to study them; see how beauti- 

 ful they are ! Listen to their inspiring songs ! Oh, how 

 dreary this life would be without our beautiful flowers 

 and lovely songsters! Then think how foolish we are 

 to kill or drive away our protectors the birds. I 

 know that boys do not shoot at birds for the fun of 

 killing them, but more as a test of their skill in marks- 

 manship. For goodness sake, boys! select something 

 else, "clay pigeons," or any "mark," but don't shoot 

 your friends. If we keep up this destruction of the 

 feathered tribe we shall surely find that " The way of 

 the transgressor is hard." Already our valuable 

 forest timber is being destroyed by grubs and in- 

 sects all because there are not enough birds to keep 

 down the billions of these pests. 



At a recent carriage-makers' convention a report 

 was read that nearly all the remaining hickory timber 

 is being bored and eaten by worms. It would be well 

 for these gentlemen to learn the threefold cause of this. 

 First : The native woods have been thinned out and the 

 grass and underbrush is taking up the moisture, and 

 the trees are dying of thirst ; and, second, because 



