128 IN THE ACADIAN LAND. 



mens, and much perseverance. Still it is quite 

 desirable that knowledge increase in this direc- 

 tion. It is not realized that for the most part 

 birds are so useful that we could not hold our 

 own against insects without them. We would 

 surely be driven out of the land by caterpillars, 

 grubs and bugs, and beetles and flies, if our 

 feathered allies did not destroy them by millions 

 every day, even within the area of one small 

 county. Long ages before mankind appeared 

 on this earth birds were here. Their fossil re- 

 mains imbedded in the ancient rocks proves 

 this statement beyond question. It is then 

 very evident that they can live without us, 

 but without them human existence could only 

 be maintained within narrow limits. No 

 grains could be grown, no trees could live. 

 The insect-eating birds are to mankind what 

 the embankments that keep back the ocean 

 are to Holland. If the wall was removed 

 or broken down the whole country would 

 be overwhelmed with water. Insects destruc- 

 tive to vegetable and animal life exist in 

 countless species, and their ability to mul- 

 tiply their numbers even in one year is some- 

 thing incredible. They are held in check by 

 birds. There are other agencies that help in 

 this direction, but they would prove unequal 



