238 ANNUAL KEPOETS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGEICULTUKE. 



to our native species that build in tree cavities and boxes, as wrens, 

 martins, swallows, and flickers; and with these it is brought into 

 direct competition. A circular has been widely distributed for the 

 purpose of eliciting information as to the extent of territory the 

 starling now inhabits and as to the amoujit of damage the bird 

 inflicts on fruit. 



Information on the economic importance of the bird has been 

 sought during the year by means of letters and by the collection of 

 stomachs. It is planned to carry on field investigations of the star- 

 ling as soon as possible with a view to determining its status in the 

 United States. 



ATTRACTING BIRDS. 



Bird lovers throughout the land are seelring ways and means of 

 increasing the number of birds and of attracting them to the vicinity 

 of homes. While the basis for this movement is in part esthetic, to 

 no small degree such efforts are based on a growing appreciation of 

 the usefulness of birds as insect destroyers. The increase of interest 

 in wild birds throughout the United States during the past decade 

 has been phenomenal, and organizations having for their chief object 

 the care and protection of birds are numbered by hundreds, if not 

 thousands. Civic leagues and women's clubs have been especially 

 active in attempts to attract birds to city parks and suburbs, with a 

 view to bringing wild life to the doors of those denied the privilege 

 of knowing it in wilder districts. Two publications issued during 

 the year designed to aid and advance this movement — "Bird Houses 

 and How to Build Them" and "How to Attract Birds in North- 

 eastern United States " — constitute manuals on the means of attract- 

 ing birds and fill a widespread and continually growing demand. 

 The bulletin discussing methods of attracting birds is the first of a 

 series planned to cover all sections of the United States. Special 

 attention is given to the kinds of fruit-bearing shrubs and trees 

 important as furnishing food for birds. 



ECONOMIC STATUS OF CERTAIN IMPORTANT SPECIES. 



Examination of bird stomachs by groups was completed for mal- 

 lards, wrens, thrashers, mocking birds, catbirds, chickadees, and tit- 

 mice. In the case of cuckoos, crows, and jays the examinations were 

 brought up to date. Intensive study of the common crow is being 

 made with a view to supplying precise information as to its economic 

 status. 



In a publication issued in July on birds in relation to the alfalfa 

 weevil it was shown that 45 species of birds prey upon this pest. 

 Economic investigations of food habits of birds resulted in a bulletin 

 on the food of the robins and bluebirds of the United States, and a 

 revision, under the title " Some Common Birds Useful to the 

 Farmer," of an earlier Farmers' Bulletin (No. 54) which has had a 

 larger circulation than any other publication on American birds. 

 Reports on the food habits of thrushes of the United States, on the 

 birds of Porto Rico, and on some common birds of southeastern 

 United States will soon be published. 



