THE IMPORTANCE OF 

 BIRD LIFE 



CHAPTER I 



THEIR PLiACB IN NATURE 



1. Population. 2. Natural Enemies. 3. Destruction of Insects. 

 4. EflFect on Vegetation. 6. Destruction of Vertebrates. 6. 

 Minor Relations. 7. Summary. 



Population 



Quite the most obvious of all the laws of nature 

 is the one that requires all living organisms to 

 consume food in one form or another to enable 

 them to survive and multiply. This food as a 

 general rule consists of other living organisms. 

 Plant life alone is able to obtain sustenance di- 

 rectly from the chemical elements of the soil. 



Deer, for instance, relish as food the blades of 

 grass ; but the wolf and certain other carnivorous 

 beasts equally relish the flesh of the deer. And it 

 is fortunate for the welfare of the grazing race 

 that this is so. Without a host of deadly enemies, 



