No. 20.] THE BIRDS OF CONNECTICUT. 263 



were abundant in the Sound, fishermen could frequently 

 ascertain the presence of bluefish by watching the actions of 

 these birds, as they caught the smaller fish driven to the 

 surface by the large ones; and any one who has watched the 

 Herring Gulls (Larus argentatus) swarming at the mouths of 

 the sewers of cities, will realize their value as scavengers. 

 How far birds help in replanting forests is questionable, but 

 there is no doubt that Jays and Pigeons do assist somewhat 

 by transporting acorns and the seeds of other trees. 



To provide mental enjoyment may not seem at first sight 

 a part of the function of the State, but there is a large and 

 steadily increasing body of people, valuable citizens, who 

 derive great enjoyment from listening to the songs and studying 

 the habits of birds, who will go where birds are and keep away 

 where birds are not. Surely it is more to the advantage of the 

 state to protect birds and encourage these people to live with us 

 than it is to allow our smaller birds to be shot for the morsel of 

 meat their bodies may afford. From this standpoint alone, the 

 protection of birds is certainly a good investment for the state. 



Those also who are interested in birds from a scientific stand- 

 point must not be forgotten, as from their ranks have come most 

 of the men whose investigations of the feeding habits of birds are 

 quoted in the following pages. As almost all ornithologists 

 begin their study of birds by collecting skins and eggs in boy- 

 hood — the training of the eye and ear in youth being apparently 

 essential for success in field ornithology, — no laws making per- 

 mits unreasonably difficult to obtain should be passed. Since 

 under normal conditions at least twice as many birds die each year 

 as are living at the beginning of the year, legitimate collecting 

 can have but little effect on their numbers ; and this the killing 

 of a few vagrant cats would offset many times over. 



GREBES, LOONS, and AUKS. 

 Colymbidce, Gaviidce, and Alcidce. 



Of the five species of Grebes and Loons occurring more or 

 less frequently in Connecticut, only two breed with us, and 

 those but rarely. Their habits are entirely aquatic except in 

 the breeding season, and even then the Grebes build floating 



