94 Bird Day Book 



from morning 'till night, sweet songs that will keep us cheerful and 

 happy. 



The Kentucky cardinal, beautiful of plumage, amiable in dis- 

 position, and a brilliant whistler, cheers us in our day's work. 



Aside from these services, the greatest work of birds is to de- 

 stroy insects, and rid the fields of weed seeds. 



Some of the insectivorous birds are the warblers, whippoorwills, 

 swallows, chickadees, and flycatchers. 



Think of the cotton saved to the planter by the birds destroying 

 the young of the boll weevil. A single boll weevil multiplying in 

 one year amounts to hundreds of thousands. At this rate our farm- 

 ers would be unprofited to try to farm ; but why do not the farmers 

 think of the work that the birds do for them? Without the birds, 

 the farmers would have no occupation. 



Birds rid the trees of insects that would destroy them, and cause 

 great loss to us. But what birds drive away insects? Even the 

 crows that you dislike, are good, farmers, for your crops. You call 

 the birds thieves but your fields would be badly ruined without them. 



When a farmer gathers a good crop of cotton, corn, or other 

 things, he takes the credit to himself and says, "I made a good crop." 

 Poor birds do not get any credit for their good work. Instead of 

 saying, "1 made a good crop," say, "The birds and I made a good 

 crop." 



After the great task the birds render to us, you wish to kill 

 them. Why? Just because they take a few grains or a few cher- 

 ries or berries ; and all the time the birds are working for us. Would 

 you rather hear the whir of insects than the songs of birds ? If not, 

 protect them? And you kill them for millinery purposes. Do not 

 be so cruel as to kill the poor, innocent birds that do more, in some 

 ways, to the farm than we can ourselves. 



We should never wear a stuffed bird or even bird feathers that 

 cannot be secured without taking their dear lives. 



There is something so unselfish, so generous, and so uplifting 

 in the song of a bird. They are God's ministering angels and their 

 blessings fall on rich and poor alike. Do not kill the birds ! 



Do you know what you are doing, dear boys, 



With a sling, gun, bow and arrow, 

 When you ruthlessly cripple the delicate wing 



Of even a little brown sparrow? - - - 



