110 SERVICES RENDERED BY BIRDS. 



Secrefary. 



LESSON XIX. 



SERVICES RENDERED BY BIRDS TO MAN MISCHIEF 

 DONE BY ERDS. 



BIRDS render many important services to man. 

 The vulture, though disgusting in its habits and 

 appearance, is exceedingly useful in hot countries. 

 It is called the scavenger, and clears the streets 

 and lanes from offal, and dead matter of all kinds, 

 which decays rapidly, and which would make the 

 air unwholesome and disagreeable. The crow, the 

 kite, the hawk, and the raven, destroy field mice, 

 and other small animals, which, if permitted to 

 multiply without check, would do great injury to 

 the corn. The secretary and griffon vulture de- 

 stroy serpents. 



Insects and vermin are removed in vast num- 

 bers by birds ; and although the sparrow and the 

 rook are often considered as troublesome and ex- 

 pensive visiters, yet if they were entirely to be 

 got rid of, the land would be overrun, and our 



