THE BROWN-TAIL MOTH. 55 



arc lamp globes would become more or less clogged by the 

 bodies of the insects. As soon as daylight breaks, however, 

 the English sparrows swarm to the lamps and feed upon the 

 moth bodies. They also carry them to their young. A 

 remarkably short time suffices for these birds to remove a 

 quart or more of the moths from the lamp globes. AVhile 

 the old birds evidently enjoy the moths as a morning meal, 

 they also carry them in large numbers to their young. 



Birds as Destroyers of tlie Brown-tail Moth. 



Birds play an important role in checking the spread of 

 the brown-tail moth. AVhile their attacks are perhaps more 

 conspicuous while the insect is in the moth stage, it is 

 probable that the greatest number of insects are destroyed 

 in the larval form, at which time many species of birds not 

 only consume the caterpillars, but carry them to their 

 young. Armed as these larvas are with an abundant growth 

 of nettling hairs, it would seem that they would prove 

 distasteful morsels for the birds, and be largely protected 

 from their attacks. This, however, is not the case ; the 

 same species of birds that feed on other hairy caterpil- 

 lars, such as the tussock moth, forest tent caterpillar or 

 gypsy moth, readily adapt themselves to the brown-tail 

 moth caterpillars. Of the birds feeding on the caterpillars, 

 the yellow-billed and black-billed cuckoos and Baltimore 

 oriole are Avorthy of special mention. They are connnon 

 visitants to infested trees, feeding freely on the insects, and 

 carrying them to their young. They arrive in their sum- 

 mer migration when the cater})illars are a!)out two-thirds 

 grown, and make repeated visits to the infested trees, feed- 

 ing particularly on the masses of insects clustered for 

 molting. As is well known, the cuckoos are formidable 

 enemies of hairy caterpillars. Their services in destroying 

 the common tent caterpillar of the orchard are of highest 

 value, and alone should entitle them to the good- will of the 

 farmer or property owner ; and this statement is also true 

 of the Baltimore oriole. Of the other birds which feed on 

 the larvae, the yellow-throated vireo and blue jay are worthy 

 of special mention. 



