17 



One can scarcely realise the important part which these birds 

 play in ridding our rivers of the offal and filth which emanate 

 from the sewers, slaughter yards, vessels and a dozen other 

 sources. They need, therefore, the well-merited protection 

 which has been extended to them in Cheshire and elsewhere. 



(4) Species which are generally considered pests of the 

 farm and garden, but with the balance of utility in their favour. — - 

 Song Thrush, Great and Blue Tit, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, and 

 Rook. The two species of Tits might almost come under 

 heading 2, but the injury which they cause to ripe pears in some 

 districts is so marked that on the whole they fall best within this 

 group. A study of the post-mortem records will, however, 

 at once convince the reader of the utility of these birds. I am 

 of the opinion also that the Rook is, on the whole, decidedly 

 beneficial, though quite omnivorous and a great destroyer of 

 grain. 



(5) Species which are generally beneficial from an agricultural 

 point of view, but destructive to game and other birds or their eggs 

 or young. — Jay, Magpie, Jackdaw, Long-eared Owl, and the 

 Hawks not included in 2 and 6. 



(6) Species which are destructive and doubtfully of any utility. 

 — Blackbird, Bullfinch, Sparrow Hawk, Raven. 



The first two are an unmitigated nuisance to the fruit grower, 

 and the Sparrow Hawk is of very doubtful benefit, as it preys 

 upon many small birds which are of a useful kind, takes young 

 chickens occasionally from the farm and is a great pest to 

 game preserves. In spite of its depredations there are many 

 wild and almost barren tracts of country where the Raven could 

 be allowed to breed unmolested by the flockmaster, the keeper 

 and the collector of British birds eggs. 



(7) Species which are wholly destructive and useless. — I 

 would place under this head the Carrion Crow, the House 

 Sparrow and the Wood Pigeon, though the food of the two 

 last named have not been discussed in this paper. 



I feel that it would be impossible to close this chapter in more 

 fitting terms than those given by Mr. Charles W. Nash in his 

 able paper on " The Birds of Ontario in relation to Agriculture/'* 

 in which he impresses upon the student the great value of 



* Reprint from the Report of the Farmers' Institutes of ' Ontario 1897-8 ; Ontario 

 Department of Agriculture, Toronto, p. 30. 



(4127) c 



