168 



NOTE. 



weeks, making only the same allowance for them as the old 

 ones, their share would amount to four thousand two hundred 

 millions ; making a grand total of sixteen thousand two hun- 

 dred millions of noxious insects destroyed in the space of four 

 months by this single species. The combined ravages of such 

 a hideous host of vermin would be sufficient to spread famine 

 and desolation over a wide extent of the richest and best culti- 

 vated country on earth. 



" All this, it may be said, is mere supposition. It is, how- 

 ever, supposition founded on known and acknowledged facts. 



" Mr Bradley, in his General Treatise on Husbandry and 

 Gardening, shows c that a pair of sparrows, during the time 

 they have their young ones to feed, destroy on an average, 

 (eveiy week) about three thousand three hundred and sixty 

 caterpillars.' This calculation he founded on actual observa- 

 tion. And it is well known that several kinds of our birds, 

 such as the Hirundo, muscicapa genera, and some others, feed 

 entirely on insects. 



" I am fully persuaded, as long as farmers and others permit 

 boys to roam over their fields and shoot down every small 

 bird they meet — as long as young men are in the habit, on 

 our anniversaries, of forming themselves into shooting par- 

 ties, for the purpose of destroying small birds, which they do 

 in immense numbers — I say as long as this wanton destruc- 

 tion of birds is carried on, we must expect innumerable hosts 

 of noxious insects will continue to commit depredations on 

 our orchards, our fields, and our gardens," — New England 

 Farmer, Vol. vii. No, 1. 



