Nature's Militia og^ 



devoured, or even very greatly reduced in numbers, the 

 plants dependent upon them for help would be seedless, 

 and the remainder would be so plundered of their seed by 

 flocks of hungry birds, that little would be left for sowing. 

 Both insects and birds, then, are the enemies of vege- 

 tation when their numbers are multiplied to excess; but 

 without them, there would be no vegetation at all. 



QUESTIONS FOR REVIEW 



1. Why do insects increase when land is over-cultivated? 



2. Describe the destruction of birds in Italy. 



3. How is the destruction of birds being felt in other places 

 also? 



4. Give illustrations of the extent to which birds destroy 

 insects. 



5. How has Jamaica suffered from the loss of birds? 



6. What are the arguments in favor of the sparrow? 



7. What valuable service is rendered by the wood-pigeon? 



8. How does the crow help the farmer against some of his 

 worst enemies? 



9. What experiments in planting imported seeds have 

 ended disastrously, and why? 



10. How do birds of prey help the farmer? 



11. What curious balance of animal life is to be found in 

 India? 



12. What insects are entitled to the farmer's special con- 

 sideration? 



