480 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



Mr. A. A. Smith of Colrain and Hon. J. W. Stockwell of 

 Sutton have spoken of birds as numerous in their localities. 



I do not question the accuracy of these statements. No 

 doubt there are some favored localities ; but there is one 

 condition arising from the scarcity of insects which had some 

 influence on the numbers of certain birds as seen locally. 

 The fruit-eating birds, finding their usual insect food failing 

 them in June and early July, crowded into the fruit gardens, 

 and therefore in such localities were more numerous and in- 

 jurious than usual. Crops of strawberries, cherries, rasp- 

 berries and currants suffered severely in some cases, while 

 in other localities birds are reported as so few that they did 

 little injury ; but the lack of insect food was probal^ly the 

 main reason for the unusual number of blackbirds, robins, 

 cedar birds and orioles that flocked to the fruit. 



The strawberry and cherry crops were not large, and so 

 the inroads of the birds on the crops were serious in some 

 cases. This led to much agitation in New Jersey for legis- 

 lation against birds, and a similar movement is said to be on 

 foot in Maine. 



If, in such a case, a few acres of green sward could be 

 turned over, the birds miHit be attracted away from the 

 fruit, in their search for the exposed worms, white grubs 

 and terrestrial insects. Thus the farmer might get protec- 

 tion for his fruit and secure the services of the birds at the 

 same time. Legislation will not cure the evil, for the birds 

 will probably be much needed within a year. 



Inquiry has been made as to the reasons why birds of cer- 

 tain species perished in one locality and lived in another. 

 This diflerence appears to have been due mainly to a dis- 

 similarity in local conditions. For example, although the 

 temperature did not vary greatly in different localities, there 

 w^as much variation in the force of the wind, and the conse- 

 quent exposure to driving rain. A locality Avell wooded or 

 Avith wooded hills to the north and east would be })rotected 

 against the easterly gales, while an open coast would feel its 

 full force. 



This may explain the great loss of swallows along Cape 

 Cod, and theu" apparent safety in certain localities among the 



