Economic Ornithology

"Economically considered, birds are simply natural forces, and it should be our purpose to ascertain how they may be turned to our greatest advantage. The best economic conditions are prob ably fulfilled when birds are numerous as species and moderately abundant as individuals. Under such conditions there will be a demand for food of many kinds, without excessive demand for any one kind. The most desirable status would seem to be such a re lation of numbers and species between birds and insects that the birds would find plenty of food without preying on useful products, while the insects would be held in such check that they would neither increase to a harmful extent nor be completely exter minated. The proper course to pursue, apparently, is to study the food habits of both birds and insects, to favour the increase of species which seem best adapted to preserve the proper balance, and to reduce the numbers of those that prey too greatly on the products of orchard or farm."—(F. E. L. BEAL.) Game.—Commercially, birds are utilized in various ways. Some are used as food, others are valued for their plumage and others for their guano.

Most game-birds are beneficial to agriculture. While accurate statistics are difficult to obtain, there is a larger consumption of such birds to-day than ever, and most nations have enacted special laws for their preservation. When and where such laws do not exist the danger of extermination is very great. In practically all cases the preservation of game-birds has, economically, proved of great value.

Eggs.

The eggs of various species of wild birds are highly esteemed as food, and large quantities are annually gathered, but here again there is the same tendency toward extermination un less the gatherings are limited, or close seasons instituted.

Feathers.

The feathers of birds are commercially of consid erable value apart altogether from the demand of the millinery trade. There is a large trade carried on for upholstery purposes in which the feathers of gulls, guillemots, puffins, ducks and the domestic fowl are utilized. The soft feathers or down of the eider duck are preferred to all others owing to their superior warmth, lightness and elasticity. Large quantities are imported from Ice land, Greenland and the Faeroe islands. The great mercantile value of the plumes of the ostrich has led to the establishment of ostrich farms, which yield considerable profits.

What is known as the plumage trade, i.e., the trade in birds' feathers for millinery purposes, has, quite apart from many very repulsive aspects, led to more wanton destruction of certain species of birds than all other causes combined. The almost com plete extinction of the egrets in the United States and the appall ing destruction of birds of paradise, gulls, terns, grebes, tanagers, orioles, bluebirds and numerous other small birds was a blot on present-day civilization. Restrictive measures have been, or are being, taken in many countries.

Guano.

Prior to the introduction of artificial manures, guano from the various islands of the Pacific ocean was greatly sought after. Although utilized by the Peruvians over three centuries

ago, it was not until the middle of the 19th century that it as sumed any importance as an article of commerce. So great was the demand that the better qualities were soon exhausted, and the poorer ones proved unprofitable when compared with the better artificial fertilizers. Small quantities are still collected. Schemes for protection and conservation of the birds and their product have, however, now been introduced.

Legislation.

In the absence, until recent years, of really comprehensive and reliable statistics with reference to the precise economic status of the different species of wild birds, it is not surprising that the various acts and orders relating to the preser vation or destruction of wild birds have proved largely abortive.

Many of these have been ill-considered and often hastily prepared, others have been largely selfish in nature, while the advocates of uniform protection have indirectly contributed to the wanton destruction of many useful birds. What would be the probable ultimate effect of such legislation was never seriously considered at the time.

In some countries the principles on which legislation has been based are, that all wild birds are the property of the State, hence that without permission no one has a right to destroy them; the State has the right to impose restrictions and birds may be cap tured, killed, possessed, etc., only under such conditions as the State enacts; in a like manner landowners can only kill or capture as a privilege and according as the law specifically grants.

International co-operation in Europe as regards the protection of wild birds has proved difficult, so many and diverse are the interests of the different countries. Valuable work has however, been done by the International Ornithological Congresses and other organizations. An international committee was founded in London in 1922, and the International Treaty of 1916 between Great Britain and the United States of America for the protec tion of migratory birds constitutes one of the most important and far-reaching measures in the history of wild bird protection.

The immediate need of the present is for (I) wide and compre hensive measures that will ensure protection to all non-injurious and beneficial wild birds, and provide adequate repressive meas ures for those species which have, or do, become too numerous and destructive: (2) the establishment of an ornithological bu reau, which would have full control of all matters relating to wild birds, including game-birds. Such an organization should be the sole authority for framing new laws or making special local orders, and for granting licences to persons to collect birds or their eggs for scientific or other purposes, or to destroy birds which the bu reau considers to be injurious. Such a bureau would of course be in close touch with other similar bodies, so that international action could be taken where desirable. (See EGG; FEATHER.)