. The bird . ■-•^^;J^^^^>t lABCiUfi-^THE LABOUR. THE WOODPECKEE. Among the calumnies of which birdsha\e been made the victims, none is moreabsuid than to say, as it has been said, thatthe woodpecker, when burrowing among thetrees, selects the robust and healthy tininks,those that offer the greatest difficulties, andmust increase his toil. Common sense plainlyshows that the poor animal, living uponAvorms and insects, will seek the infirm, the1 otten trees, those offering the least resistance,and promising, moreover, the most abun-^^ dant prey. The persistent hostility whicli^P
. The bird . ■-•^^;J^^^^>t lABCiUfi-^THE LABOUR. THE WOODPECKEE. Among the calumnies of which birdsha\e been made the victims, none is moreabsuid than to say, as it has been said, thatthe woodpecker, when burrowing among thetrees, selects the robust and healthy tininks,those that offer the greatest difficulties, andmust increase his toil. Common sense plainlyshows that the poor animal, living uponAvorms and insects, will seek the infirm, the1 otten trees, those offering the least resistance,and promising, moreover, the most abun-^^ dant prey. The persistent hostility whicli^P^ he wages against the destructive tribesthat would corrupt the vigorous trunk, ii^.^¥^ i? a signal service rendered to man. The{i^-^^r^ t. State owes him, if not the appomtment,■J^. at least the honorary title, of Conservatorof the Forests. But what is the fact ? That for aU his reward,ionorant officials have often set a price upon his head! 224 LABOUR. But the woodpecker would be no true type of the workman if hewere not calumniated and persecut
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1860, bookidbird00mi, booksubjectbirds
