The Birds of Wyoming. 9 



ish an abundance of the proper food for some insect, enables 

 this form to increase out of all proportions and harm soon 

 results. The killing off of certain other forms of life that nat- 

 urally keep still others in check also assists in disturbing the 

 equilibrium further. The cutting down and clearing away of 

 forests removes the shelter and homes of others, as does also 

 the turning under of prairie grasses. Then, too, many of the 

 natural residents of primeval forests and virgin prairies shun 

 the sight of man, hence they gradually withdraw from the 

 region, and their influence for good or evil goes with them. 

 Since the majority of such forms are timid and inoffensive 

 creatures, their withdrawal only adds that much more to the 

 already overbalanced conditions. Year by year the gap which 

 at first was scarcely noticeable becomes widened, so that fre- 

 quent inroads are made and harm results. Instead of trying 

 to ascertain the true cause for all this trouble perhaps exactly 

 the wrong thing is done by the settlers. This of course only 

 has the effect of further widening the gap between safety and 

 danger. Since an insect or other animal becomes noticeably 

 harmful only when present in alarming numbers, it stands to 

 reason that anything which favors such an abnormal increase 

 is a factor in disturbing nature and should be quickly rectified 

 where possible. In order that these disturbances should be 

 looked after the all-wise God of the universe created birds 

 and gave them the power of flight that they might the more 

 readily move about rapidly from place to place where their 

 services might be needed in balancing affairs. Hence birds 

 have naturally and rightfully been called the 'balancers' in na- 

 ture. This being true, let us see just what their relations are 

 to agriculture. 



"The farmer sows in order that he may reap an increased 

 measure of what he has sown. In doing this he must first 

 turn over the soil. This destroys many existing plants as well 

 as animals that depend upon them for food. The plants thus 

 turned down cannot regain their position and must of neces- 



