204 NATURE-STUDY REVIEW [11:4— Apr., 1915 



Shortest time between trips, 4 min. 



Male fed only once after the morning excitement subsided. 



Insects brought 



White grubs 12 



June beetles 35 



Unidentified 1 4 



Total 61 



The large number of June beetles and their larvae fed is explained 

 by the fact that a small piece of grass land not .60 rods distant had 

 just been plowed. 



White grubs are classed as injurious insects. They spend their 

 entire larval life of two years in the ground feeding on the roots 

 of grasses and sometimes strawberries and other garden plants. 

 Sod corn is often injured by them. Here was, therefore, an 

 excellent illustration of the economic value of birds, even the ques- 

 tionable grackle, as insect destroyers. Information gained in this 

 way means vastly more than that read from books. Thru such 

 studies we gain an intimate and first-hand knowledge of bird-life 

 in its most interesting aspect. We have looked into the family 

 life of our' ' little brothers" as it were, tho we were uninvited guests, 

 and shall ever after have a deeper sympathy with them and with 

 all living things. 



Some Common Mosses 



First Paper 



A. J. Grout 

 Funaria and Physcomitrium 



The common names applied to mosses by common people are 

 few. Most of the so-called popular names are in reality made up 

 by experts for popular consumption only. As a rule the scientific 

 names are about as easy to learn as the others if one would only 

 think so. 



Physcomitrium turbinatum (Mx.) Brid. is often called the 

 "Urn Moss" because the dry and empty capsule is urn shaped. 

 But before we go further in our consideration of this moss let us 

 get our bearings by a little general description of the characters 

 of mosses. 



