152 



OUR DEBT TO THE SWALLOWS 



To-day we have no enchanted fly to rid us 

 of our harmful insects, but have we not its 

 equivalent in our birds? And should we 

 not, therefore, have a wise 

 care for their preservation, 

 so that, like Naples of old, 

 we may not one day be 

 tempted to seek the aid of 

 some enchanter to save 

 us from suf- 

 fering and 

 possible destruction ? 



Our birds are our 

 most efficient allies in 

 our campaigns against 

 those vast hordes of 

 enemies, the insects. 

 By warring against the 

 moths, caterpillars, worms, 

 and lice which feed upon our grains and 

 orchards, and by devouring the seeds of 

 noxious weeds, they do what man unaided 

 is unable to accomplish. Seventy-six mil- 



