SOME OHIO BIRDS 
7 
Just so long- as the farmer destroys such valuable birds, just so 
long- will his crops suffer through the ravages of destructive rodents 
and insects. Knowing the danger invited by the destruction of use¬ 
ful birds, the husbandman should demand their protection. A few 
species are in part or wholly detrimental, but it is the safer plan, 
where one does not know their specific value, to let the harmful live, 
rather than, through ignorance, to kill the beneficial. As has just 
been suggested, the increase of rodents, insects, and other injurious 
animals is but a natural consequence following the reduction in num¬ 
bers of their natural enemies. It is likewise true that the decrease 
of vegetation is proportional to the increase of insects and rodents 
dependent thereon for food. The corollary follows that a country 
without birds would become a desolate waste, unable to support life. 
It has been conjectured by a careful student of the question that, if 
birds were swept from the earth, all higher forms of vegetable and 
animal life would be impossible after eight years. 
AS DESTROYERS OF WEED SEEDS 
Another office in which birds must be considered as of economic 
value to man is in the capacity of seed destroyers. During winter, 
when insects and other food are difficult to procure, great quantities 
of weed seeds are destroyed. Preeminent among the seed eaters 
are the Sparrows and Finches. These birds are equipped with 
strong bills to crush, and with muscular gizzards to grind hard seeds. 
This class of birds is not so migratory as those depending upon 
insects for food, and is well represented among our winter birds. 
Insects are also destroyed in varying numbers, the maximum of such 
consumption being reached during the time the young are in the 
nest, as the nestlings are almost entirely insectivorous. In agricul¬ 
tural communities the value of birds of this class can hardly be 
over estimated. At the approach of winter, great flocks of Juncos or 
Snowbirds and Tree Sparrows take up their residence in weedy 
fields, adding cheer to the winter landscape and, at the same time, 
they aid the tiller of the soil in his battle with the weeds. The 
Meadowlark, Bob-white, Bobolink and Mourning Dove are valuable 
weed seed destroyers. ' Two of these birds are on the game list and 
a third was also until within recent years. When the economic 
value of the Bob-white and the Mourning Dove is fully comprehended 
by those directly benefitted, their protection will be assured. 
