sin ileal o 
r: 7 
Birds of Massachusetts. 95 
will not permit then? to live and labor in it, we 
must not complain when the natural consequences 
come. 
This is not mere speculation; we have experi- 
ence to teach us on this subject. Kalm records, 
that after some states had paid three pence a dozen 
for the destruction of blackbirds, the consequence 
was a total loss, in the year 1749, of all the grass 
and grain, by means of insects which had flourished 
under the protection of that law. The example of 
our trees, just alluded to, is also a standing warning ; 
for we see that new ones are adding to their num- 
bers. The maple, perhaps the most valued of our 
ornamental trees, is now marked out for destruction, 
and in spite of all that we can do, will soon be 
entirely lost. 'T'here is nothing to prevent this pro- 
cess from going on; other trees will soon swell the 
list of victims ; und when it is too late, we shall 
lament that we have extended the evil, by protect- 
ing our enemies and persecuting our friends. Every 
cultivator, for his own sake, as well as the public 
good, should endeavor to spread right views on this 
subject, and to show that the wanton extermination 
. of birds, is throwing difficulties in the way of 
horticulture and farming, which no industry, science, 
or skill can overcome. 
The American SvanLING, Sturnus Ludovicianus, 
better known by the name of meadow lark, is a 
beautiful bird, and one of the most welcome messen- 
gers of spring. Wilson thought it far superior to the 
sky lark in sweetness of voice, though not equal to 
