LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. 



U. S. Department of Agriculture, 



Biological Survey, 

 Washington, D. C, July 27, 1907. 

 Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith as Bulletin No. 30 

 of the Biological Survey, Part I of a report on the Birds of Cali- 

 fornia in Relation to the Fruit Industry, by F. E. L. Beal. Fruit 

 raising in California is a great and growing industry, and the relation 

 birds bear to it is important. The investigations embodied in the 

 present report were undertaken with a view to the accurate deter- 

 mination of the economic status of ev^ery species of California bird 

 that inhabits orchards, in order that it may be possible for the fruit 

 raiser to discriminate between friends and foes; and for the added 

 purpose of suggesting remedial measures for the protection of fruit 

 from destructive species. As expected, the strictly insectivorous 

 birds prove to be almost wholly beneficial, by far the greater per- 

 centage of the insects eaten by them being injurious kinds. They are 

 hence allies of the orchardist and their presence in and near orchards 

 should be encouraged in every way. Of the species addicted to fruit 

 eating, not one was found to make its diet wholly, or even chiefly, 

 of fruit; and the fruit eaters, with possibly the exception of the 

 house finch, are found to feed upon weed seeds and noxious insects 

 to such an extent as to fully offset their destructive ])ropensities. 

 Respectfully, 



C. Hart Merriam, 

 Chief, Biological Survey. 

 Hon. James Wilson, 



Secretary of Agriculture. ' 



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