nuturalists in regard to most of our birds tliost' who have 

 not made a special study of their hal^its and structure arc 

 by no means so nearly unanimous in their opinion. Be- 

 cause the ground to 1)e passed over is contested, all the- 

 oretical views and all that is simply proba})le will be 

 omitted and only what is ))elieved to be fact well estal)- 

 lished and capable of proof will be presented! For this 

 reason a careful consideration of what may be ottered is 

 desired. 



Of course in so limited a space as is now^ at my com- 

 mand T can speak of only a few of the most important 

 species and must leave unmentioued many others, of less 

 interest perhai)S, l>ut yet not wholly unworthy of regard, 

 such as the Hunnning Birds, Vire(js, Warblers, Finches, 

 etc. The Whippoorwills and Xight ILnvks are entirely 

 harmless and very benelicial as they destroy in common 

 with the Owls many «f the uocturnal insects. The little 

 Wrens are of considera])le service in devouring the eggs 

 and small larva' of insects, many of which are too minute 

 to be seen by man and yet they may develop into for- 

 midable enemies. Still more useful in the same way is 

 the connnon Titmouse, a I)ir0. regarded by many as very 

 troublesome, and with some show of reason, for he may 

 be seen not rarelv tearinir the buds from i)lants and after 

 })ulling them to pieces throwing them away. This cer- 

 tainlv looks very uuich like mischief l)ut, if anv one will 



«/ «' *-■ 



.take the trouble to examine these castaway buds, every 

 one will be found with the marks of a worm within it and 

 this is the object which the bird seeks and so, while ap- 

 parently doing harm, it is really preventing a much great- 

 er evil. Not only in this Avay does the Titmouse pi'ove 

 serviceahle, but in many others. 



The Chickadee or Black-capped Titmouse is one of our 

 winter birds and after the leaves have dropped from the 

 trees and bushes he ma}^ be seen carefidly examining the 

 bark and thrusting his sharp little bill iuto every crev- 

 ice, often spending a long time upon a single lu-anch and 



