o 



70 Missouri State Horticultural Society. 



doubtful whether they are, on the whole, beneficial ; second, birds 

 whose habits make it doubtful whether they are, on the whole, 

 beneficial or injurious ; third, birds whose habits render them, on 

 the whole, injurious. According to Mr. Eead, the catalogue of 

 birds the contents of whose stomachs show they are beneficial, com- 

 prise a large majority of our common birds, and a large i)ercentage 

 of these are shown to be wholly beneficial, not only feeding on 

 insects injurious in agriculture, but without charge of stealing 

 fruit. 



These facts warrant the conclusion that our small birds gener- 

 ally ought to be fostered and protected by securing them suitable 

 nesting- places. Mr. Eead, after careful obseryation, is satisfied 

 that the imported English sparrow does not expel wrens and blue- 

 birds by reason of any greater pugnacity or strength, but, being 

 winter residents, always occupy the eligible houses and locations 

 when the wrens and bluebirds return from their southern trip. "If 

 boxes and nesting places are prepared for the latter they will take 

 possession of them and defend them against the sjianow. The 

 English sparrows are, however, grouped among birds injurious. 

 Mr. Eead spoke a good word for the robin, which is grouped with 

 birds beneficial. While not attempting to deny its thieving pro- 

 pensities, he claimed that the stomachs of thirty-seven robins on 

 examination were found to contain thirty-four per cent, of animal 

 food to thirteen per cent, of vegetable matter; cut-worms, wire- 

 worms, grubs, grasshoppers, etc., formed a large portion of the 

 contents. 



In the discussion following, the robin scarcely found an advo- 

 cate, fruit-growers with one accord denouncing him as injurious, 

 especially among cherry trees and in strawberry beds. Other birds 

 meeting with wholesale condemnation from fruit-growers were tlie cat 

 bird and oriole. It was suggested that strawberiy beds may be 

 protected from the depredations of robins by covering with nets. 

 Thin pajDer bags are the best protection for grapes. A condensed 

 table makes it appear that the insect food of the different families 

 of birds is as follows : 



