the successful growing of figs. And now the "Smyrna figs" of the 

 Pacific Coast bid fair to take their rank along with the standard 

 figs of commerce. The United States entomologist is prepared to 

 furnish colonies of these precious insects to all intending fig 

 growers. 



In the few instances just described we behold the realization 

 of one of the chief ideals of economic biology — the subjection of 

 useful species to the will of man. 



Many insects might be named which are of great value in 

 agriculture and commerce. We think at once of the silk-worm, 

 which, as Professor Shaler remarks, is of more importance to us 

 than the elephant, because it supports an industry out of which ten . 

 millions of human beings get their living. The bee is busy all over 

 the earth, furnishing annually ten thousand tons of honey besides 

 a valuable output of wax. The cochineal bug of the tropics, from 

 which we derive our supply of carmine, once outranked all other 

 insects in the commercial value of its product. Now, however, the 

 aniline colors have largely superseded carmine. 



Lest this paper should become merely a catalogue, we will 

 spare you the repetition of a score or more of useful insects, merely 

 remarking that possibly this class of animals comprises among its 

 millions of species more friends than foes. 



The birds undoubtedly rank next to the insects in economic 

 importance. Nearly all of them are useful to man. A recent 

 writer says that if all our native birds were to be destroyed man 

 would die of starvation inside of ten years; mainly because of the 

 unchecked increase of the insects that destroy our food plants. 

 However this may be, we know that civilization is coming to a 

 realizing sense of its dependance on birds in the war against noxious 

 animals and weeds. This rational attitude toward our birds is due 

 largely to the careful investigations of bird habits in every country 

 of the first rank, particularly in our own land. The study of the 

 relation of birds to agriculture has been very thoroughly cultivated 

 by the United States Department of Agriculture, involving, among 

 other methods, the investigation of the contents of about 20,000 

 birds' stomachs, and the careful tabulation of the articles of diet. 

 The report published in 1899 states that only six or eight of our 

 native American birds are found to be injurious to man. The 



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