504 ENEMIES OF BEES. 



In the Vosges (France) most of the farmers suspend earthen 

 pots to the walls of their barns in which the sparrows make 

 their nests. These jug-shape pots are examined every week 

 and the young birds are killed as soon as they are ready to 

 fly out, and are put into the frying-pan. We have seen as 

 many as five or six dozen pots on the same wall, nearly all 

 filled with nests, for sparrows raise many broods every year. 

 If— as in the olden time of fables— birds could be moved 

 by human language, it would be worth while to post up, in 

 the vicinity of our apiaries, the old Greek poet's address to 

 the swallow: 



' ' Attic maiden, honey fed. 



Chirping warbler, bears 't away 

 Thou the busy buzzing bee. 



To thy callow brood a prey? 

 Warbler, thou a warbler seize? 



Winged, one with lovely wings? 

 Guest thyself by Summer brought. 



Yellow guests whom Summer brings? 

 Wilt not quickly let it drop? 



'Tis not fair; indeed, 'tis wrong. 

 That the ceaseless warbler should 



Die by mouth of ceaseless song. ' ' 



819. No Apiarist ought ever to encourage the destruction 

 of any birds, except the too-plentiful sparrows, because of 

 their fondness for bees. Unless we can check the custom of 

 destroying, on any pretense, our insectivorous birds, we shall 

 soon, not only be deprived of their £erial melody among the 

 leafy branches, but shall lament, more and more, the increase 

 of insects from whose ravages nothing but these birds can 

 protect us. Let those who can enjoy no music made by these 

 winged choristers of the skies, except that of their agonizing 

 screams as they fall before their well-aimed weapons, and 

 flutter out their innocent lives before their heartless gaze, 

 drive away, as far as they please from their cruel premises, 

 all the little birds that they cannot destroy, and they will, 



