116 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



Geothlypus trichas — Cabanis. 

 Maryland Yellow-throat. — This bird is a common summer 

 inhabitant of all the New England States. Its nest is usually- 

 placed on the ground, and is constructed of grasses and leaves, 

 and lined with hair. The eggs are laid about the first of June. 

 They are usually five in number, of a creamy-white color, and 

 covered more or less thickly with reddish-brown spots. This 

 species is most common in swampy districts. It is beneficial, as 

 its food consists mostly of insects. 



Setophaga ruticilla — Siuainson. 



The Redstart. — This bird arrives from the South about 

 the middle of May. It is a very beneficial species, destroying 

 insects in the trees, and also flying insects. The nest is on a 

 low limb of some small tree, and is constructed of strips of bark, 

 grasses and weeds, all being glued together by the saliva of the 

 bird. It is lined with soft cottony substances. Eggs four in 

 number, white, with spots of brown. 



Family Hirundinid^e. 



The Swallows. — The swallows are all beneficial in their 

 habits, subsisting on insects, which they are continually catch- 

 ing for themselves and their young. There are four species 

 common in Essex County, as follows : Cliff or Eave Swallow, 

 Barn Swallow, White-bellied Swallow and Bank Swallow. 

 These build their nests respectively on cliffs or eaves, in barns, 

 in boxes put up for their accommodation, and in sand banks. 

 The habits of this family of birds are so well known, that any 

 description is superfluous. The Purple Martin also belongs to 

 this family, but is not now very common in Essex County. 

 Farmers would do well, however, to put up martin-boxes for its 

 accommodation, and thus try to induce more of these birds to 

 settle with us, as they are very beneficial. 



Ampelis cedrorum — Baird. 



Cedar-bird, Cherry-bird. — To those who cultivate small fruits 

 this bird is doubtless a considerable trouble, but to farmers in 

 general it is as beneficial as almost any other bird. Nuttall 

 says : " They fail not to assist in ridding the trees of the deadly 

 enemies which infest them, and the small caterpillars, beetles 



