NATURE AND MAN

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXX, Issue 12199, 10 March 1934, Page 12

NATURE AND MAN

MOVES IN HIGH PLACES

CONSERVING NATIONAL ASSETS.

(Edited by Leo Fanning)

Three hearty New Zealand cheers for the Hon. J. A. Young (Minister of Internal Affairs) and the Hon. E. A. Ransom (Minister of Lands) ! Mr Young has definitely decided l that the protection of the native forests is more important than the conservation. of • destructive rleer, and therefore he is determined to carry, on.war against the- pests. Mr Ransom has promoted legislation ■to enable the owners of private property—partieur larly forested ‘areas — to have sections proclaimed ns sanctuaries without the loss •of their ownership rights. This law will strengthen the hands of the authorities 'against vandals who desecrate beauty spots. By these' resolutions the two Ministers -and their departments have the opportunity to win the permanent gratitude .of .New Zealand, They can move ahead boldly-in the full confidence that they are supported -by a very strong force of public opinion. They have set their faces, against selfish sectionalism .and crude stupidity— and may they never look backward, except on the.• good results of their courage.

A. CHAT ABOUT CATS. Folk who see only the likeable side of cats —especially the playfulness of kittnes—are apt To resent any proposals for registration of these animals, but the common weal demand's a proper judgment on the eat, which can he a grievous nuisance when it funs wild. Even tame pussy, prowling about in all manner of places, , can be a (menace to humanity. It- is 'well known that this animal can be a carrier of . deadly diseases such-as diphtheria and tuberculosis, and the “eat concerts” that break the peace oft in the stilly night are a horrible worry for sick people in private homes and hospitals? Tens of thousands of ownerless cats . prey on bird life throughout the Dominion. Next to man, the cat is the worst destroyer of birds

In the United States ‘ of America the National Association of Audubon Societies fwhich are similar to the NJZ. Native Bird Protection Society) lias long been trying to rouse the public of the big Republic to the danger of an easy-going toleration of cats, hut the task is not- easy. A few towns have adopted cat-licensing measures, hut it is reported that “there has been extremely little oh. servance of the cat-lieensing features.”

'the International Cat Soc'ety of New York has suggested an ordinance for the licensing of cats, in much the same way as dogs are licensed. One section of the ordinance provides for the issue of suitable numbered tags, to be attached to collars, which must be worn by the licensed cats ‘when at large. Another section is concerned with the humane detraction of vagrant collarless cats. Well, it is simply a case of putting cats on a par with dogs. They can he licensed to live at peace with mankind, but must not enjoy liberty to be a serious nuisance. Such a course is surely only a to after of commonsense. A STATE- BIRD. By popular vote, Tennessee, U.S.A. has chosen the mocking-bird as the “State bird.’’ New Zealand, by chance, not by vote, seems to have selected the kiwi, which appears in many designs, including the trademark of the Tourist Department’s “’movies.” Australia has apparently taken the kookaburra, whose merry laugh lias been introduced to the world at- large through the Commonwealth’s “talkies.” Of course, there is much to be said for the kiwi as New Zealand’s “State bird,” but probably many folk would prefer the tui. If only a- “talkie” outfit could catch a tui singing in a close-up! The aristocratic form of the bird, with' that quaint bib, and marvellous song, would be .splendid publicity for Nbw Zealand overseas, THE FOREST SPONGE. Here is a striking reminder for New Zealanders abouj the importance tof their forest in regulating the flow of water in steep country. It is mentioned in that very interesting monthly magazine “American Forests,” that Dr J. T. Anteii, of the Central States Forest Experiment Station at Columbus, Ohio, found that “the top inch of forest soil in a normal, protected woods absorbs forty-seven-’times as much moisture as the top inch of an abandoned field ; the third inch in depth in the woods absorbs fifteen times as much, and the eighth inch two and a half times as much as -at the same depth absorbs in an oid : field.”

A BRAINY BABY WREN. A true story by Egbert Wallace in a recent issue of .“Bird Lore” (official organ of the American Audubon Societies): — “Occasionally among birds and animals we find individuals who are seemingly leaders among their kind. Last summer, attracted by the unusually loud hunger-calls issuing from one of my wren-houses, I discovered that one of the baby wrens had acquired a. virtual monopoly of the food-supfily- by taking a commanding position in the doorway. Although the neglected nestlings were volubly expressing. Hhcir opinion of such a state of affairs, the parent birds appeared to bo well satisfied »wit-h the arrangement. Possibly it was more convenient to alight on the perch and feed one mouth than it was to choose between- four mouths within the warm and noisy, bird-house. “As the day wore on the cries with-, in the bird-house grew more and more insistent, and Air and Airs Wren, became noticeably ’more uneasy, with each visit. ’There came a rime when one of the parents refused to feed the youngster in the doorway, but. instead -hopped nervously.‘about until joined by the other parent bird. Evidently a hurried consultation wa§.

Feld, for after'a few seconds of chatJ.ering and more hopping about, Mrs Wireri (from tho decided way in .which she acted I know that ifc’waS /.Mb, Wren) laid down her collection : of worms and brusquely puslie’d her way-into the birdMiouse. In a second or two she reappeared, very emphatically laid down, several rules , oninble manners, and then, gathering up the worms she had dropped, she disappeared once more within. After this occurrence theb oid birds -’ ignored, any of the young ones that tried to . intercept a meal at the - doorway, ” y A QUEER NESTING P.LACE.

•Many oases of eccentric habits;of. Birds, in the choice of nesting’places are on record., " A contributor to; “Bird T/tro” describes the very unusual, nesting site 'of . a pair of kindh’rds in'Lyon Village, Virginia. “The nest, ,a -rather compact structure,” he wrote, “was placed on. the shade of a street light. It was.composed of string, paper, >a few.’sticks, and lined’ with coarse grasses. 'The string securely fastened the body of the nest'to the two wires. ;

“At no time of the day was the nest in ’the “shade. On-some .of the very warm days,'the-birds panted vigorously and the mother sheltered the babies with her wings., The light ■ of • the lamp at night did"'not bother them, and'often the •'babies were fed after dusk and when the light was on.” . ' •- - > ’ . ■" THE HIGHER- LIFE. A noble thought of Mr-Guthrie-Smith in “Mutton. Birds- ; and Other Birds” ' '.‘lt may , he at once admitted- that humanity can survive without the rarer anti more recluse birds.. ■ The race could not exist- without the more beautiful-orders of. flowering pjdnts, without music, and without art-, but ii anything is true .it is- tbaf.-‘mou does not live by bread alone.’ -Wo do not highly .prize the necessities of;iife, ;■ but ’rather the ■ delicacies “of taste and sight- and hearing—the pleasures of our leisure’ hours. “.This modest claim,. I think, may Be fairly urged in. regard -to birds, that by the extirpation of ‘ species, a, Potential -source of happiness is denied to the coming -generation?, and furthermore, that without the. possibility of full investigation structures may be. forever lost that bind the present to the past.”