o feed, the
number of insects they consume is enormous. They require absolutely
nothing at our hands save _the privilege of being let alone while they
work for us!_ In fighting the insects, our only allies in nature are the
songbirds, woodpeckers, shore-birds, swallows and martins, certain
hawks, moles, shrews, bats, and a few other living creatures. All these
wage war at their own expense. The farmers might just as well lose
$8,250,000 through a short apple crop as to pay out that sum in labor
and materials in spraying operations. And yet, fools that we are, we go
on slaughtering our friends, and allowing others to slaughter them,
under the same brand of fatuous folly that leads the people of Italy to
build anew on the smoking sides of Vesuvius, after a dozen generations
have been swept away by fire and ashes.

In the next chapter we will consider the work of our friends, The Birds.

* * * * *

CHAPTER XXIII.

THE ECONOMIC VALUE OF BIRDS

To-day, from Halifax to Los Angeles, and from Key West to Victoria, a
deadly contest is being waged. The fruit-growers, farmers, forest owners
and "park people" are engaged in a struggle with the insect hordes for
the possession of the trees, shrubs and crops. Go out into the open,
with your eyes open, and you will see it for yourself. Millions of
dollars are being expended in it. Look at this exhibit of what is going
on around me, at this very moment,--July 19, 1912:

The bag insects, in thousands, are devouring the leaves of locust and
maple trees.

The elm beetles are trying to devour the elms; and spraying is in
progress.

The hickory-bark borers are slaughtering the hickories; and even some
park people are neglecting to take the measures necessary to stop it!

The tent caterpillars are being burned.

The aphis (scale insects) are devouring the tops of the _white potatoes_
in the New York University school garden, just as the potato beetle
does.

The codling moth larvae are already at work on the apples.

The leaves affected by the witch hazel gall fly are being cut off and
burned.

These are merely the most conspicuous of the insect pests that I now see
daily. I am not counting those of second or third-rate importance.

Some of these hordes are being fought with poisonous sprays, some are
being killed by hand, and some are being ignored.

In view of the known value of the remaining trees of our country, each
woodpecker in t