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general over multiplication can be checked only by Nature's 

 own agents which she has appointed for this end. 



Before I conclude this branch of my subject, I wish to say a 

 word in behalf of one of our most useful birds. I allude to the 

 little Spotted Tattler or Peetweet, a species of Plover that 

 breeds annually in our fields, and would multiply and become 

 very numerous if the species were protected. These little birds 

 are so mercilessly hunted by gunners of all ages, that they have 

 become extremely shy and have lost all confidence in man. — 

 Yet if they were harbored and protected from annoyance and 

 danger, they would be tame and confiding, and our fields and 

 gardens would be full of them. They are the most indefatiga- 

 ble hunters of insects, in pastures and tilled lands, and they 

 lead their young after them as hens do. A few pairs, with 

 their young broods would perform incalculable service on ev- 

 ery farm ; and if encouraged and protected they would soon re- 

 ward us with their confidence and their services. These little 

 birds are incapable of doing any mischief ; they steal no fi'uit ; 

 do not bite off the tops of tender herbs ; they are interesting in 

 their ways, and the only cause of their scarcity is the shameful 

 destruction of them by wanton gunners. 



The consequences which have followed tlie destruction of birds, 

 as related in many well authenticated instances, afford one ot 

 the most convincing proofs of their utility. Prof. Jencks men- 

 tions a case communicated by one of his female correspondents, 

 which is worthy of record. In former times, as she had been 

 told by her father, an annual shooting match took place on 

 Election day in May. On one of these occasions, about the 

 year 1820, in North Bridgewater, the birds were killed in such 

 quantities, that cartloads of them were sold to the farmers for 

 fertilizing the soil. There was consequently a great scarcity 

 of birds in all that vicinity. Soon the herbage begun to show 

 signs of injury. Tufts of withered grass appeared, and spread 

 out widely into circles, of a seared and burnt complexion. — 

 Though the cause and effect were so near each other, they were 

 not logically put together by tlie inhabitants at that time. — 



