ANIMAL, LIFE IN OKLAHOMA. 19 



or driven to shelter by the approach of winter. These feathered songsters- 

 not only contribute immeasurably to the joy of living, which would be 

 argument enough for their eternal protection, but they wage a ceaseless- 

 war against insect pests and weeds everywhere. They work at all 

 hours when insects are about and pursue their prey into all accessible 

 places. The robin is abundant here through the summer months, and 

 is continually combing the yards and gardens in search of pests. 1\ 

 is a delight to watch this representative bird attempt to teach its half- 

 grown young to shift for themselves, but they apparenly will not learn 

 and after days of patient but vain effort the exasperated parent leaves 

 part of a wriggling worm on the ground in front of the ravenous young- 

 sters, and flies away. The young birds proceed in an awkward fashion 

 to finish their meal, and with the awakening instincts are soon able to 

 provide for themselves. During the winter months robins are so numer- 

 ous in the southern part of the State that trees are often covered with 

 the roosting birds, and vicious men go into these colonies at night with 

 a lantern and when the frightened birds become bewildered and fly into 

 the light they are struck down by the hundreds and their mangled bodies 

 picked up and carried away for food. This condition applies, also, in 

 a large measure to the cardinals. In the extreme northern part of the 

 State this bird is migratory, but is a permanent resident of the central 

 and southern part of Oklahoma, where it often gathers in great num- 

 bers. They feed very little on insect life, but subsist for the most part 

 on weed 'seeds and wild fruits. Wherever they ate found in large col- 

 onies they are preyed upon by degenerate and criminal men, who go 

 about after night armed with lanterns, clubs, and sacks. If public senti- 

 ment in such communities is not strong enough to prevent this savagery, 

 its discontinuance should be guaranteed by the State, even at the cost 

 of a permanent patrol. 



The present number of song birds can constantly be increased if 

 the citizens will only exercise a little patience and tact. Birds are quick 

 to recognize their friends and anyone who is willing to make the effort can 

 double the number of birds on his premises in a single year. Many 

 cities are organizing bird clubs and providing nesting sites and food 

 for the birds that have suffered most on account of the change in nature 

 occasioned by the coming of man. These communities will reap a reward 

 in increased bird life that will repay the effort a thousand times. Aggres- 

 sive effort for a worthy cause will ennoble the character of a girl or boy ; 

 it will create in the community a moral tone that is at once fine and 

 beautiful. The first-hand study of wild life and its systematic care and 

 protection offer possibilities to the public schools of the State that have 

 not yet even been sounded. 



One could not enumerate, much less discuss, in this brief account, 

 all the song birds of Oklahoma. There are more than one hundred kinds, 

 and every one is doing an excellent service for man and deserves everty 

 protection we can throw around it. Our Mrd life, fortunately, has 



