60 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



We now know that predaceous beetles, such as the Harpa- 

 lide, when they become numerous sometimes attack grain or 

 fruit. Granting, that a species may change its status from 

 beneficial to injurious the moment it becomes too numerous, 

 • birds are certainly performing a great service, provided 

 they keep insects or other animals within normal bounds. 



But it may be said that there are some species, like the 

 predaceous beetle of Europe, Calosoma sycophanta^ and 

 perhaps our own Galosomas, which feed entirely on other 

 species of insects except when such food is scarce, and 

 then they eat each other, and that such species, therefore, 

 would never become pests. This is true, but the usefulness 

 of these cannibalistic species is likely to be abridged by their 

 own voracity, and only a few birds are known to eat them. 

 We must admit, however, that, if these birds seriously reduce 

 the numbers of such insects, then they do harm, which must 

 be counterbalanced by their general usefulness in destroying 

 other insects. 



Birds are especially fitted by structure and habit to destroy 

 insects. They will do it effectually wherever they are 

 sufficiently numerous and are allowed to work unhindered. 

 That they are not now sufficiently numerous in Massachu- 

 setts is largely the fault of the inhabitants. 



Man the Destroyer. 

 Some of our useful birds have been almost exterminated 

 from this State, within my memory. The passenger pigeon 

 has gone within twenty-five years. A hundred years ago 

 their flocks darkened the sun. Bartram's sandpiper, other- 

 wise known as the upland plover, bred not uncommonly on 

 the hills about Worcester thirty years ago. This is an 

 exceedingly valuable bird in grass lands. It was wanted, 

 however, by the epicures. The pot hunters got after it. 

 Now you may occasionally hear one flying over in the spring 

 or fall, but we do not know where they now breed in the 

 State. The woodcock has bred commonl}^ in eastern Massa- 

 chusetts within thirty years. The young birds were raised 

 in some numbers about Worcester twenty years ago. Breed- 

 ing birds are now rare. The pot hunter has destroyed 

 them. Most people are unaware that the northern quail is 



