ENEMIES OF EEBS. 273 



ous gourmand can distinguish perfectly well, between an 

 empty bee in search of food, and one which is returning 

 full laden to its fragrant home, and whose honey-bag sweet- 

 ens the delicious tit-bit, as the unfortunate owner, all ready 

 sugared, glides daintily down his voracious maw ! Drones 

 are not in the habit of visiting honey-producing trees when in 

 blossom, and yet king-birds are often seen plying their vocation 

 in such trees. Still, I have never yet been willing to destroy a 

 bird, because of its fondness for bees ; and I advise all lovers 

 of bees to have nothing to do with such a foolish practice. 



Unless we can check among our people, the stupid, as 

 well as inhuman custom of destroying so wantonly, on any 

 pretence, and often on none at all, the insectivorous birds, 

 we shall soon, not only be deprived of their aerial melody, 

 among the leafy branches, but shall lament over the ever 

 increasing horde of destructive insects, which ravage our 

 fields and desolate our orchards, and from whose successful 

 inroads, nothing but the birds can ever protect us. Think of 

 it, ye who can enjoy no music made by these winged choris- 

 ters of the skies, except, that of their agonizing screams, as 

 they fall before your well-aimed weapons, and flutter out 

 their innocent lives before your heartless gaze ! Drive away 

 as fast and as far as you please, from your cruel premises, all 

 the little birds that you cannot destroy, and then find, if you 

 can, those who will sympathize with you, when the caterpil- 

 lars weave their destroying webs over your leafless trees, and 

 insects of all kinds riot in glee, upon your blasted harvests ! 



It is to be hoped that such a healthy public opinion will 

 soon prevail, that the man or boy who is armed with a gun 

 to shoot the little birds, will be scouted from all humane and 

 civilized society, and if caught about such contemptible busi- 

 ness, will be too much ashamed even to look an honest man 

 in the face. I shall close what I have to say about the birds. 



