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Show BIRDS HELP ! TO DESTROY THE WEEVIL Interesting - . Conclusions Drawn From Examina-: Examina-: Hon of Stomachs. An Interesting letter was received yesterday by Fred W. -Chambers, state nab and gam commissioner, from R. R. Kalenbaob, an expert of tbe bureau of biological survey of the department of agriculture at Washington, concerning what he learned in hia investigation in Utah laat June and July regarding tbe relation -of tbe native birds to tbe alfalfa al-falfa weevil. The letter states that twenty-four specie of bird were found to include tbe weevil ia their diet to the extent of 0 per cent. Ia devouring the peat the young English Eng-lish sparrow gave a percentage of 32.1, based oa an examination of over 2U0 stomachs.' The old sparrowe relished tbe weevil somewhat lees. It waa found to form only 11 per cent of their diet. Mr. Chambere ssys that these remarkable remark-able results ought to go a long way in redeeming the sparrow ia this state. The brewer blackbird waa found to rely on th weevil for nearlv 20 per cent of its food. The yellowheads -fed their young only about 6 per sent, while the adults consumed over SO per IS per cent, while the cowbird and bobolink; bob-olink; reached 82 percent aad 53 per cent, respectively. The small sparrows ate tbe larvae (very young weovils) almost al-most exclusively, aa didVlso the young brewer.- About 20 per cent wae found to go toward the robin's sustenance. - Tha kllMeer and the valley quail were found to be the only aajme birds that save evidence of ha rlna eaten the weevil, the former 41 per cant and the latter over 40 per cent. In order to esvrry on a further and exhaustive ex-haustive study of Just what the birds of I'tah are doing; toward the elimination ef the destructive pest, Mr. Kalmbach has asked Commissioner Chambers to send him aa many of the stomachs of the various va-rious birds of irteh aa he can procure. Mr. Chambers granted Expert Kalrnbaea special fame privileges In order that he might anther as many different species of birds aa posslhl during his stay in ITtah. AH ho us h Mr. Kalmbach's special trip to riah waa for the'express purpose of determining the vigor with which the native birds have turned their attention to the reduction of the weevil, he aleo Investigates In-vestigates Into many other plusee of the alfaJfa pest. Mr. Chambers naM that the farmers had a friend, greatly aindervaJued, In theoEtit-Ush theoEtit-Ush sparrow and In many other hlrda, which on hasty observation, never sem to be doing any real good. He ta a BlroDg believer In the absolute protection of all native birds of the state and says that that all farmers should teach their sons not to molest birds or destroy the eggs. Under the direction of Commissioner ; Chambers, a large collection of the atom-ache atom-ache of birds dwelling In different parte of the atate will be shipped to Washington Washing-ton for the purpose of continuing the tests. |