298 BIRDS 



shamelessly killed by thousands to supply the demanrls of 

 inilhners. Birds are being destroyed by thousands in every 

 state for food. Gun clubs, hunting contests, shooting boys, 

 and cheap firearms are all enemies of birds. 



It is small wonder that the canker\A'orm, tlie palmer 

 AN'orm, the army worm, the cui'culios, tire codling moth, the 

 locusts and other insects are destroying three hundred 

 million dollars' worth of farm and garden crops every year. 

 It is a wonder that they do nut destroy more. If this 

 brutal, thoughtless, and indiscriminate ^\■arfare against the 

 birtls goes on much longer, we sliaU be wholly at the mercy 

 of insect pests. 



Birds have Ijoth an aesthetic and an economic value. 

 They arc our liest friends and oui' mf)st cljeerful companions. 

 They always welcome us with a song. "When j'our ears 

 are attuned to the nnisic of fiirds, j'our woi'ld will be trans- 

 formed. Birds' songs ai'e the most eloquent of nature's 

 voices; the gay carol of the grosbeak in the morning, the 

 dream}' midday call of the pewee, the vesper hyum of the 

 thrush, the clanging of geese in springtime, the farewell of 

 the l)luebird in the fall — how clearly each one expresses 

 the sentiment of the hour or season." 



I3ut since the a'sthetie side of bird life is not always ap- 

 preciated, let us consider the economic value of these ani- 

 mals wliich depends upon their usefulness as (lestroj^ers of 

 injurious insects, rodents, and the seeds of noxious weeds. 

 In the air swifts ar-e pursuing insects all day long and at night 

 the 'whippoorwills and night hawks take up the quest. 

 Flycatchers lie in wait for theii' ]:)rey and the light, active 

 warblers skillfully ]jick insects from the leaves and blossoms 

 of plants, 'klie wocidpeclaas, nuthatches, and creepers 

 ex[jlore the trunks of tiees h)r ludhig caterpillans and 



