SURROUNDINGS OF THE HOME 279 



tinuous warfare upon insect enemies, and insect plagues cost 

 the country* millions of dollars a year in a decreased yield 

 of the farms. These losses have close relationship to the 

 wholesale warfare that has been carried on for years against 

 birds. Much of this killing has been mere wantonness under 

 the name of ' ' sport. ' ' Very largely it has been and continues 

 to be in utter disregard of public interests, and it is a waste 

 of public wealth. Birds are necessary to conserve the food 

 supply of the country. 



Aside from these interests, birds rightly claim protection 

 and considerate care by reason of their beauty of form and 

 movement, and the great enjoyment afforded in their songs. 

 Collections of birds' eggs by school children should not be 

 allowed. National legislation against traffic in the plumage 

 of birds for millinery should be strictly enforced. Some of 

 the kinds of birds of most beautiful plumage, both in this 

 country and abroad, have been largely or wholly extermi- 

 nated by the demands of fashion. Cats and squirrels are 

 natural enemies of birds. The English sparrow brought to 

 this country in 1850-51 is a good illustration of the survival 

 of those forms of life best fitted to existing conditions. But 

 it is a poor exchange to lose our American songsters and to get 

 this quarrelsome nuisance as the representative of bird life 

 in our daily round of life experiences. 



SUMMARY 



Studies of birds can very successfully be carried on by comparison 

 after having made a detailed study of some one or more kinds as types. 

 A study of some one of the domestic fowls may be included in this list. 



Birds may be characterized as feathered bipeds hatched from eggs 

 laid by a parent bird. 



The plumage of birds is wonderful in its structure, and in its adapta- 

 tion for flight, and as a covering to protect from wet and cold. In many 

 cases the plumage is striking in its beauty of coloring and of form. 



