102 PRIZE ESSAY : 



of Athens County, Ohio, has a colony of swallows amounting to 

 one hundred individuals, which he thinks secure him from the 

 ravages of the midge. It is probable, however, that the most 

 destructive to the midge maggot among the feathered tribes is 

 the beautiful little yellow bird. (Fringilla Tristis Lin.) 



167. In Madison County, New York, during the prevalence 

 of the wheat midge, in the years 1838 and '52, flocks of yellow 

 birds were seen busily employed in the wheat fields, much to the 

 alarm of the farmers, who, observing these active and beautiful 

 little creatures picking the heads of wheat to pieces, immagined 

 that they were destroying the crop, and hence resorted to various 

 means to kill them, and drive them away. The same warfare 

 has been frequently noticed elsewhere, and should at all times be 

 discouraged to the utmost by all who desire to cherish the most 

 interesting, beautiful and useful class of insect destroyers the 

 world contains. Birds, and especially the insectivorous birds, 

 ought to be encouraged in every way on this continent. Facili- 

 ties so unusual have been furnished by man for the increase of 

 certain destructive insect tribes, and no corresponding effort 

 made to maintain a check upon their excessive multiplication, 

 that we have permitted a host of enemies to obtain a firm foot- 

 ing in our midst, which are at all times liable to paralyze our in- 

 dustry in the most alarming and grievous manner. 



