336 Natures Militia 



much that all green things would be destroyed ; and 

 without the birds of prey to keep the number of small 

 birds within bounds, not only would farming be quite 

 impossible, but wild plants would also suffer ; for, wher 

 the insects were devoured, or even very greatly reduced 

 in numbers, the plants dependent upon them for help 

 would be seedless, and the remainder v/ould be so 

 plundered of their seed by flocks of hungry birds, that 

 little would be left for sowing. 



Both insects and birds, then, are the enemies of 

 vegetation when their numbers are multiplied to 

 excess; but without them, there would be no vege- 

 tation at all. 



