CARDINAL S FOOD ITEMIZED. 



26 



only 1 cardinal does harm to 15 which do good. The presence of this 

 single harmful bird among so many beneficial ones no more justifies 

 us in classing the species as injurious than would a like proportion 

 of disabled men justify the condemnation of a whole regiment. 



On the contrary, since the cardinal, by its general food habits, 

 does at least 15 times more good than harm, it must be classed among 

 the very useful species. The following list of important pests the 

 bird has been shown to prey upon is in itself sufficient proof of the 

 cardinal's value. The list includes the Rocky Mountain locust, 17- 

 year cicada, potato beetle, cotton worm, bollworm, cotton cutworm, 

 cotton-boll weevil, codling moth, rose-beetle, cucumber-beetle, fig- 

 eater, zebra caterpillar, plum scale, and other scale insects. A host 

 of minor insect pests are attacked and the seeds of many noxious 

 weeds are destroyed. The cardinal much more than pays its way, 

 and deserves and should receive strictest protection. The bird is 

 easily attracted by food in winter and by the provision of suitable 

 nesting sites in summer. Being thus responsive to human care, and 

 being so valuable economically, the cardinal's presence on the farm, 

 and even in the city garden, should be encouraged in every possible 

 way. With proper protection and encouragement it will become 

 more and more numerous and render husbandry a correspondingly 

 increased amount of useful service. 



LIST OF SEEDS, FRUITS, AND INVERTEBRATES EATEN BY THE CARDINAL. 



GRAIN. 



Corn (Zea mays). 



liice {Oryzn sntirn). 



Kafir corn {Sorghum vulgare durra). 



Oats (Avena sativa.) 

 Wheat (Triticum vulgare). 



WILD FRUITS. 



Red cedar (Junipcrus rirgininna) . 

 Solomon's seal i PoJogoiuituin hi- 



ftDnnn ). 

 Bristly greenbrier (SmiJax hona-nox). 

 Hickory (Ilicoria sp.). 

 Oak (Qiirrrus sp.). 

 Southern hackberry {Ccllix mixsiSKip- 



piensis ) . 

 Iliicklx'rry (Celtis occidentJiUa) . 

 Mulberry {Moms sp.). 

 roUchcrry { I'ln/tolaccti dicandnt ). 

 'J'ulil) tree {Liriodendron tiiJipifmi). 

 Si)icebush ( IJndcra hciizohi). 

 r.lackberry {Rubus sp. ). 

 Rose {Rosa sp.). 



Juneberry {Amelanchirr cduadrnsis). 

 Rod haw (Crataegus sp.). 

 Cherry {I'runus sp.). 



Skunk bush {Rhus trilobata). 



Poison ivy {Rhus radicdns). 



Holly (lU-r opnv(i). 



Inkberry (Ilcf ghibra). 



Maple {Acer sp.). 



Sununer f,'rapc ( I'/Z/.s- aestivalis). 



Frost Ki'iipP (Vitis cord i folia). 



P.ullace grapt' {\'iti.s rotundifolia). 



Maypop (I'assifioru incarnata). 



Prickly penr {Opuntia opiintia). 



Rough-leaved cornel {Corint.s aspcrir 



folia). 

 I'loweriug dogwood {Comas fforida). 

 Blueberry { \d<(iniu)n rirgatiini). 

 Knockaway tree {Ehrrtia rUiptira). 

 Nightshade {l^olanuni sp.). 

 Elder {Sainburtts sp.). 

 Arrowwood {\ ibunnna sp.). 



