Xo. 20-1 THE BIRDS OF CONNECTICUT. 2Q5 



when food is scarce. For example, they eat frozen apples found 

 on the trees in winter, or pumpkins, turnips, and potatoes which 

 have been overlooked or neglected ; even mushrooms are some- 

 times taken, probably in default of something better. 



" In estimating the economic status of the Crow, it must be 

 acknowledged that he does some damage, but, on the other hand, 

 he should receive much credit for the insects which he destroys. 

 In the more thickly settled parts of the country the Crow prob- 

 ably does more good than harm, at least when ordinary precau- 

 tions are taken to protect young poultry and newly planted corn 

 against his depredations. If, however, corn is planted with no 

 provision against possible marauders, if hens and turkeys are 

 allowed to nest and to roam with their broods at a distance from 

 farm buildings, losses must be expected." (Beal, " Some Com- 

 mon Birds in Their Relation to Agriculture.") 



" While, from the nature of the case, birds' eggs and young 

 can form but a small portion of the annual food supply of the 

 Crow, I believe it to be indisputable that during the nesting season 

 they constitute a large percentage of the Crow's food. Nest- 

 robbing is not occasional, but is the characteristic habit of the 

 Crow. Not only do they eat eggs and young birds, but they 

 feed their offspring on them. Doubtless few Crows live through 

 May and June without preying on smaller birds, and the pos- 

 sibilities are that almost any one of the birds destroyed (either 

 in the egg or out of it) is of greater economic value than the 

 Crow. The Crow, therefore, in addition to the direct damage 

 it may do our crops, robs us of the services of birds far more 

 desirable than itself. Even if the Crow, aside from its cannibal- 

 like propensities, was wholly beneficial, it would not, it seems to 

 me, render us as great a service as would have been performed 

 by the birds it destroys. In short, in my opinion, the Crow is 

 one of the worst enemies of our small insectivorous and seed- 

 eating birds, and as such it is undeserving of protection." (Chap- 

 man, " Economic Value of Birds to the State.") 



STARLINGS. 



SturnidcB. 



As the Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) is now so firmly settled 

 along the coast as far east as New Haven that its distribution 



