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The National Geographic Magazine 



in the wasting of public funds, but in the 

 destruction of valuable lives, which can 

 be replaced, if at all, only with great diffi- 

 culty and after the lapse of a term of 

 years. In no one particular does the 

 public, especially the sportsman and 

 farmer, need to be educated more than in 

 the value of hawks. The temptation to 

 shoot a hawk or owl, perching or flying, 

 is well nigh irresistible, and the bad 

 habit is having the natural result of so 

 reducing the numbers of these birds as 

 to make it impossible for the survivors to 

 do the work nature intended them to do. 

 The notable increase of noxiousi rodents 

 in the last decade in certain parts of the 

 United States and the resulting damage 

 to crops without doubt are due in no 

 small part to the destruction of their 

 natural enemies, chief of which are the 

 birds of prey. 



When the public is fully informed as to 

 the value of hawks and owls and an en- 



From the Biological Survey 



THREE-TOED WOODPECKER 

 A conservator of the northern forests 



lightened sentiment is exerted in their 

 behalf, they will increase in numbers and 

 the damage to crops from noxious mam- 

 mals will correspondingly diminish. 



THE POLICEMEN OF THE AIR 



Differing widely as they do in struc- 

 ture and habits, birds collectively are able 

 in man's interests to police earth, air, and 

 water. The thrushes and other ground 

 feeders scour the surface of the 

 earth and hunt under leaves for hid- 

 den insects. The warblers, titmice, nut- 

 hatches, creepers, and others search 

 among the foliage and in the crevices of 

 bark for all manner of creeping things. 

 The woodpeckers, a highly specialized 

 group, perform a service no other birds 

 are equal to, since with their specially 

 designed chisels they dig into wood and 

 drag forth the hidden larvse that prey on 

 our forest monarchs. The flycatchers 

 from their perches dash out for 

 their prey as it flies from bush to 

 bush or tree to tree, while the 

 swallows and swifts skim the air, 

 and with intricate evolutions snap 

 up such insects as have escaped 

 the active search of their breth- 

 ren nearer earth. The waters too 

 and their shores have their 

 feathered denizens which exact 

 special tribute of the insect 

 world. 



So that, quite aside from ques- 

 tions of sentiment, birds must be 

 adjudged to play an active and 

 important part in keeping na- 

 ture's balance true. Their role is 

 all the more important, since no 

 Dther creatures are fitted for their 

 special duties. Moreover, if we 

 may judge the future by the past, 

 the services of birds must become 

 increasingly valuable as time 

 goes on. Agriculture, always im- 

 portant in the United States, is 

 constantly assuming greater im- 

 portance. The stream of immi- 

 gration from the Old World and 

 the steady increase of our own 

 millions mean an ever-augment- 

 ing consumption of food at home, 

 while the demand ffom abroad 



