184 • MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



a May morning ! In his experience the cat bird is a much worse 

 cherry thief than the robin, and the oriole is bad. But none of 

 the birds are as bad as the mischievous boj^s and girls (some of 

 even larger growth) who break off the branches and damage the 

 trees in their efforts to steal the fruit. There is great need that 

 these should be educated to better things and ways in relation to- 

 their neighbor's fruit; and also as to the destruction of our 

 valuable birds. 



Yesterday the speaker heard the cheer}' notes of the bluebird 

 and phebe, and this morning a quail whistled near his home, 

 saj'ing "Spring has come!" They are better indicators of the 

 seasons than is the weather bureau at Washington. 



Mr. Terry had a little stor}- about the crow, and as his children 

 used to say, "tell us what you know j^ourself, then we shall know 

 'tis true," he would relate it. When he was a small boy there was 

 a tame crow in the village, which was allowed free access to the 

 houses, kitchens, parlors, sitting rooms, etc., and it became a 

 great thief and nuisance, carrying off thimbles, spectacles, spoons, 

 scissors, etc. He himself had a brood of eleven young chickens. 

 One day as he went to feed them there were only two alive ; the 

 little feet and other remnants of the rest were lying around to tell 

 their fate. The next day that crow came again to finish the brood. 

 Now it wore a red feather ^ taken from a military cap, directly over 

 its crop. Mr. Terry took his little gun and just put a shot 

 through that red feather and that crow did not steal any more 

 spectacles or chickens. And he heard that the good women in the 

 village said he deserved universal commendation. The moral of 

 this story is that crows, as well as all other creatures — men and 

 women included — should be kept in their proper spheres as 

 Nature ordains b}' her laws. 



Francis H. Appleton said the subject under discussion was 

 brought before the Massachusetts House of Representatives last 

 year, and the result of its consideration was the adoption by that 

 body, on May 28, 1890, of the following resolution : 



Resolved^ That the Board of Agriculture of Massachusetts be 

 and they are hereby requested to make inquiry and investigation 

 as to the birds that inhabit the State, and report thereon as to 

 their character, habit, and value as insect destroj'ing and grain and 

 fruit destroying birds, and advise on such legislation as may be 

 necessary for the protection of private and public interests. 



