6 IN BERKSHIRE FIELDS 



cotton-boll weevils, one of the worst insect pests that ever 

 invaded the United States; and 35 cliff-swallows had taken 

 an average of 18 boll weevils each. Two stomachs of pine- 

 siskins from Haywards, California, contained 1,900 black 

 'olive scales and 300 plant lice. A killdeer's stomach taken 

 in November in Texas contained over 300 mosquito larvae. 

 A flicker's stomach held 28 white grubs. A night-hawk's 

 stomach collected in Kentucky contained 34 May-beetles, 

 the adult form of white grubs. Another night-hawk from 

 New York had eaten 24 clover-leaf weevils and 375 ants. 

 Still another night-hawk had eaten 340 grasshoppers, 52 

 bugs, 3 beetles, 2 wasps, and a spider. A boat-tailed grackle 

 from Texas had eaten at one meal about 100 cotton-boll 

 worms, besides a few other insects. A ring-necked pheasant's 

 crop from Washington contained 8,000 seeds of chickweed 

 and a dandelion head. More than 72,000 seeds have been 

 found in a single duck stomach taken in Louisiana in 

 February." 



From so brief a survey as this of the actual, as- 

 certained facts about the habits and economic value 

 of certain birds, it should at least be apparent even 

 to a state legislator, one would suppose, that the 

 subject of bird protection is important, worthy 

 of investigation, not lightly to be dismissed. Some 

 day these gentlemen will wake up, but probably 

 not until public opinion wakes them, including the 

 opinion of those most conservative of God's creat- 

 ures, the farmers, who for the most part are not 

 yet even dimly aware of how much they owe to 

 birds and how sorely the birds need protection, need 

 it more and more every year. Our birds are de- 

 creasing; our pests are increasing. And in part, 

 at least, it is cause and effect, though the increased 

 facilities of commerce and intercourse have been 

 responsible for some of our worst inflictions. 



