300 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



piedatorv animals in the Western States. Fortunately all fears as 

 to signilicant dostriiction of birds in these campaigns have proved 

 unfounded. In tlio last annual report of the bureau mention was 

 nuidc of an inxostigation i-onnected with this problem which showed 

 that qiuiil certainly are not endangered by poisoning operations 

 against ground squirrels in California. During the j^ear two investi- 

 gations Avere made to ascertain the relation of poisoning campaigns 

 to birds. The first related to the use of arsenic and bran prepara- 

 tions in ])oisoning grasshoppers in North and South Dakota. Re- 

 ports of birds being poisoned were investigated in the vicinity of 

 Pierre, S. Dak., and of Dawson and flamestown, N. Dak., and it was 

 found that very few birds had succumbed, not enough to cause alarm. 

 The second investigation resulted from reports of the destruction of 

 large numbers of beneficial migratory birds in connection with an 

 antivermin campaign in Pennsylvania. While no specific evidence 

 was found to substantiate the reports, it was learned that unscrupu- 

 lous persons in efforts to secure fur-bearing animals had distributed 

 poison in a way that might cause the destruction of some wild-bird 

 life. This practice was particularly dangerous to dogs and, if con- 

 tinued, even threatened the extermination of certain valuable fur 

 bearers. Not all the animals that would suffer from this promiscuous 

 poisoning could be considered vermin. The methods of crow control 

 recommended by the State game and fish commission were not found 

 to be dangerous to other wild birds. 



FEKDING PLACES OF WILD DUC^KS. 



The bureau's work to aid in the improvement of feeding grounds 

 of migratory wild fowl was continued during the year. Surveys 

 were made oi 26 lakes and ponds in Missouri, 5 in Michigan, and 1 in 

 Tennessee, and reports including recommendations for improving 

 conditions were made to individuals and associations interested. An 

 extensive report on the marsh and aquatic vegetation of North Da- 

 kota, based on surveys of approximately 500 lakes, was completed 

 during the year. 



BIKUS AS ENEMIES OF INSECT PESTS. 



Three special investigations of the relations of birds to outbreaks 

 of insect pests have been undertaken during the year. For the last 

 three years there have been serious infestations of grasshoppers in 

 various parts of the Dakotas, the outbreak of the summer of 1919 

 being the most severe. In many places practically all vegetation was 

 consumed and in others crops were so badly damaged that no attempt 

 Avas made to harvest them. Information was obtained from the in- 

 fested areas on the food habits of 27 species of birds, 25 of which 

 were feeding on grasshoppers. From a third to all of the food of 

 these birds was found to consist of grasshoppers, 19 of the species 

 attaining the 100 per cent mark. The birds having the best record 

 as grasshopper consumers were the lark sparrow, meadowlark, 

 Franklin gull, Arkansas kingbird, crow blackbird, and common king- 

 bird. 



The Japanese beetle, an imported insect, has become thoroughly 

 established in New Jersey, is very abundant, and does much damage. 



