11 



opinion, yet prevail among the farmers, — and this too in 

 regard to matters of great practical moment. A long list 

 of points that seem still to be unsettled — at least in many 

 minds — might easily be made out. Probably most of these 

 problems need for their solution, nothing but careful investi- 

 gation, accurate and patient experimentation, some acquain- 

 tance with the more occult laws and operations of nature, 

 and some knowledge of what has already been ascertained 

 and proved. 



From numerous instances which I might adduce in illustra- 

 tion of this remark, I select two, taking them just as they 

 come to hand. And, first, a word or two on what may be 

 called the bird question. That this is not entirely settled, I 

 think you will all allow. 



The Transactions of this society for the year 1858, contain 

 a short but very spirited article from Mr. Nathan Page of 

 Danversport, on the fruit-devouring habits of the robin. Mr. 

 Page certainly seems to make out a pretty strong case, and, 

 so far as he is concerned, a rather hard one. He clearly has 

 no faith in that bird as a useful destroyer of insects, and 

 thinks that their animal food is limited to earth-worms, 

 whose operations are not only harmless, but useful. Mr. 

 Page raises strawberries for his own use, and for the market, 

 and these winged gormandizers steal from him, without scru- 

 ple or compunction. Before he can get on the ground, they 

 are there, seizing and swallowing his earliest, largest ber- 

 ries — fruit for which he could have fifty cents a quart. The 

 tax assessed on him by these robins — and collected too — is 

 more than all his other taxes for town, state and nation. 



Nor is this all. These nimble little rascals take a malicious 

 pleasure in adding insult to injury. For when, provoked be- 

 yond endurance, he sometimes takes his fowling piece and 

 blazes away at them — they fly off indeed, for an instant, 

 but soon return to their repast — chattering, as they gobble 

 down his berries, and as if they were making fun of his 

 marksmanship — " ain't dead yet." 



