Page:Bird-lore Vol 08.djvu/247

 Italian Bird Life as it Impresses an American To-day 199 in Europe. It is, first of all, a question of international agreement and legis- lation, for one may well ask "Of what use is it to protect the wild birds of England and Germany for the Italians to kill in their own country, or for Greeks, Latins and Arabs to destroy in the Nile valley, and other parts of the Levant?" It is fortunate, indeed, that the streams of migration from northern Europe do not all set in the same channel. It is true that in cer- tain provinces of Italy there are laws designed to protect birds during the very brief period of breeding, but these are evidently designed for the benefit of the gunners, rather than of the birds, the broods of which can be killed before they leave the country. How fare the crops of the Italian farmers in a country which is nearly destitute of birds, where winters are mild, where green things abound, and, as often happens in the latitude of Rome, frost keeps away for an entire sea- son? Famously indeed, in many parts, and perhaps this is why Italians are dubious of the value of birds to agriculture, and indifferent to questions of their protection. As a rule, fruits are fair, and I have never seen finer vege- tables than are offered in the markets of Rome ; and these are pulled fresh from the ground all winter long — cauliflowers, and the even more delicate green broccoli of the same family, fennel displayed everywhere in attractive green and white braids on strings, gobbi — a kind of thistle — artichokes, celery, squashes, radishes of various kinds, and a dozen varieties of salad plants, not to mention many of the commoner sorts, and good vegetables and fruits not confined to Rome or the central provinces. In the absence of birds what, then, holds the devastating hosts of insects in check, for insects abound in all warm countries where vegetation is luxuriant. This, in my opinion, is the lizard brigade, — those spry and cheerful little fellows in gray and brown "homespun," of which Lacerta muralis is the commonest kind, which are seen streaking it over walls and along the ground, in town and country everywhere. Both birds and lizards feed on insects, and help to keep their numbers in check, but some of the birds prey on lizards, thus fortunately a reduction in birds brings about a surplus in lizards. The reptiles succeed to the work performed by their "glorified descendants," and through their incredible numbers form a dynamic force equal to the great emergency. These little friends of the farmer and of mankind are so wonderfully protected by their coloring, so agile and shy, that the walker seldom sees but a small fraction of the numbers which he actually disturbs. Only occasionally is one caught peeping from behind a leaf or over a stone, and then we see only his sharp profile and keen eyes. It should be added, however, that with the reptile, as with the bird, perfect quiet begets confidence. In order to appreciate the actual numbers of lizards which are present on a given spot of earth, one should take his station on a high wall, and watch the ground beneath. I counted eighteen lizards in a garden plot eighteen