266 Bird - Lore 



gled in the jaws of a wretched cat. This is going on constantly, for there is no 

 food for which a cat will seek more diligently than young birds, in nesting-time. 



In the territory of which I speak, there are only two birds that seem to 

 hold their own: the Meadowlark and the English Sparrow. I need not go into 

 detail about the latter, but shall give a reason as to why the Larks have, to all 

 appearances, held their own, and seem to be as numerous as ever. Their 

 breeding-places have been increased. I mean that the timothy and clover 

 fields furnish ideal nesting-places for them ; for, as soon as the young leave the 

 nest, they are well protected by the long grass from Hawks and any Var- 

 mints' that would prey upon them. If one ever attempted to catch a young 

 Lark in the tall grass he will readily understand my position, when I refer to 

 the hay-fields as protection. Then the rapidity with which Quails will multi- 

 ply, when given a closed season, bears out the position that any bird that 

 builds in the grass is well protected. 



What is the remedy? It must come through the states, and from the 

 counties within the states. Every county should have a bird park, where 

 rose-bushes, buck bushes, plum thickets, thorn trees, and all kinds of wild 

 trees, can grow in rank profusion. The park will become a sort of a recruiting 

 point, as the birds will soon learn to nest there; and, if the farmers are 

 instructed to encourage the growth of thick shrubs along their fence-rows, 

 the birds will scatter out over the country. 



Cats in town should be taxed and required to wear a small collar. This 

 would cull out a large number of the prowlers. Then our farmers need some 

 advice along the cat line. 



Finally, there are only two questions before us: Do we need the birds? 

 Are they decreasing? If an affirmative answer is given to the above questions, 

 I shall add, no expense should be withheld for their protection. 



