Alabama, ipi8. 63 



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VALUE OF BIRDS TO LIVE STOCK 



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THE injury done to domestic animals by biting and parasitic 

 insects is very great. Herds of cattle are often stampeded by 

 these tormenting creatures, which carry disease and death among 

 them. Another great affliction is the warble, which is a small tumor 

 produced by the larva of the gadfly on the backs of cattle, and the 

 constant irritation of which causes considerable depreciation in the 

 value of hides, besides a lessened quantity and poorer quality of 

 beef. 



Horses, sheep, and other farm animals are subject to the at- 

 tacks of similar parasites and other persecuting insect foes. 



If it were not for the services the bird renders in alighting on 

 animals in search of these parasites, or in catching the flies on the 

 wing, or in eating them in the embryo state, man would be unable 

 to keep his live stock. 



More than this, man himself would be unable to inhabit many 

 places on the earth which he now cultivates, or where he carries on 

 other lucrative industries. — James Buckland. 



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