16 THE AUDUBON. BULUER GIy 
In order to make some Estimate of their Services, I lately observ'd a 
couple of Sparrows who had young ones, and made twenty Turns each per hour; 
and reckoning but twelve Hours per Day, let us compute what a number of those 
Vermin were destroy’d by that Nest alone. 
4o Caterpillars per Hour. 
12 Hours of feeding per Day. 
480 Caterpillars destroy’d per Day. 
7 Days suppos’d between Hatching and Flight. 
3360 Caterpillars destroy’d by one Nest alone in one Week. 

But I hear that the Wren, Tom-Tit, and other numerous Breeders, 
destroy a much greater Number; and, I believe, most Birds feed fourteen or fifteen 
Hours per Day, whereas I have reckon’d but twelve; and it is certain likewise, I 
might add more Days to the Computation, but I was willing to keep within Bounds. 
At a Gardiner’s where I lodg’d, five Miles off this City, we had in the 
House, Barn, and Stable, seven Nests of Sparrows, two of Robin red-breasts, two 
of Wrens, and one Redstart; in the Orchard and Hedges, one Chaffinch, one 
Hedge-sparrow, two Tom-tits, two Chats, one Linnet, one Yellowhammer, and one 
Tit-Lark; and computing at the Rate above mention’d of 3360 Caterpillars per 
Week, by each Nest, one with another, no less than 70560 Caterpillars were de- 
stroy’d by the twenty-one Nests in one Week’s Time; But several of these Birds 
breed twice, and some thrice per Annum, and no doubt but there were several other 
Nests which were not discover'd. 
It is observable to every Body who is conversant in Gardening, that the 
farther from London, the more the Fruit; and I say also, the farther from any great 
Town or City; and the Reason is, the little Shelter there is for small Birds, and the 
great Destruction that is made amongst them by Boys, who take their Nests, and 
destroy their Young; and Bird-catchers, who even in Breeding time catch the Old; 
so that where there is most Shelter there the most Birds, and where the most Birds, 
the most Fruit; insomuch, that were I a Master of a Garden, I would much sooner 
excuse those who stole my Fruit, than those who robb’d a Nest; for they pay their 
Landlord in Musick, and though several of them are not of the first Song, yet the 
different Notes, and Chirpings of different Birds, do together make a most delight- 
ful Consort, as well as their different Colours, Shape and Size, make a most beautiful 
Prospect; so that they really heighten the Pleasures of a Country Life, which would 
be little better than a Desart without them. 
The Thrush and Blackbird not only destroy Slugs, which devour the 
Colewort, Cabbage, Savoys, French Beans, &c, but also, where not molested, feed 
upon Snails, which destroy the Wall-fruit; the Bull-finch and Tom-tit, are said to 
destroy Buds and Blossoms; but I have been informed, it is a vulgar Error, and that 
it 1s a little Worm that they peck out of them, which would destroy the Bud or 
Blossom of itself, and which is often found in the ripe Fruit alive, and which the 
Parent Insect lays in the Bud or Blossom, as a proper Nidus wherein it is brought 
to Maturity, and receives nourishment at the same time: But grant that those Birds 
did some Harm ti Buds and Blossoms, I take it, they do little more than what a 
judicious Gardiner would do himself, who is rarely fond of an over-great Bloom, 
which either dwarfs the Fruit, or kills the Tree; so that the Question is, whether 
Caterpillars, or Birds? whether Fruit full grown, or stinted? whether green-leav'd 
Trees, or bare boughs, is to be wish'd for? I am convinced of the Truth of what I 
say, by melancholy Experience; for having a Prospect in a publick Garden, which 
