A PLEA FOR THE SMALL BIRDS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 2922, 7 April 1891, Page 2

A PLEA FOR THE SMALL BIRDS.

TO TDK EUtTOK. SIU, —Your esteemed conospondent here iu duacribing the fearful havoc (in jour i-aue. of the 2Slh March) wrought by the caterpillars at our place this season, has uuwiltiiiyly iiialijjuud tho iiinall birds, aud 1 am aure I hat, in justice to them, he will allow mo to put thu matter right. He states ,! that the small birds did not put in au appearance until after the mischief was done." Ho haa been entirely misinformed. It was the fact of the birds appearing in such droves in one of our paddocks that tirst drew our attention to the presence of the pest, and from that time until they (the caterpillars) disappeared they never left them—indeed, sq much was this the case that not a bird was to bo seen about the homestead, but tho iufested grass was literally alive with them. I could not allow such a libel upon the farmer's best friends to pass unchallenged as it was clearly a mistake not to mention that. It behoves all their friends to be stirring, as I am much mistaken if they are uot about shortly to fall upon evil times, l'oor little bi-gijars! And heavcu help us if we fall upon the old ds.ys of farming in New Zmlunl again, when the pests were on the rampage every season.—l am, &u., C. E. Savagk. Raglan, April 2, 1801.