ENEMIKS OF BEES. 253 



If as in the olden time of fables birds could be 

 moved by human language, it would be worth while to 

 post up, in the vicinity of our Apiaries, the old Greek 

 poet's address to the swallow : 



" Attic maiden, honey fed, 



Chirping warbler, bears't away 

 Thou the busy buzzing bee, 



To thy callow brood a prey ? 

 Warbler, thou a warbler seize ? 



Winged, one with lovely wings ? 

 Guest thyself, by Summer brought, 



Yellow guests whom Summer brings ? 

 Wilt not quickly let it drop ? 



'Tis not fair ; indeed, 'tis wrong, 

 That the ceaseless warbler should 



Die by mouth of ceaseless song." 



No Apiarian ought ever to encourage the destruction 

 of birds, because of their fondness for his bees. Unless 

 we can check the custom of destroying, on any pretence, 

 our insectivorous birds, we shall soon, not only be de- 

 prived of their serial melody among the leafy branches, 

 but shall lament, more and more, the increase of insects, 

 from whose ravages nothing but these birds can protect 

 us. Let those who can enjoy no music made by these 

 winged choristers of the skies, except that of their ago- 

 nizing screams as they fall before their well-aimed 

 weapons, and flutter out their innocent lives before their 

 heartless gaze, drive away, as far as they please from 

 their cruel premises, all the little birds that they cannot 

 destroy, and they will, eventually, reap the fruits of their 

 folly, when the caterpillars weave their destroying webs 

 over their leafless trees, and insects of all kinds riot in 

 glee on their blasted harvests.* 



* " The farmers of Europe having learned, by repeated observation, that, without 

 the aid of mischievous birds, their work would be sacrificed to the more destructive 



