•288 



Missouri Agricultural Report. 



the inroads of the p]nglish Sparrow. j\Iy observation has been that in a 

 fair fight the Bluebird can hold its own with the doughty little British- 

 ers, but nevertheless, sooner or later, the latter usually become master of 

 the situation, and the Bluebird retires to the more peaceful environment 

 of the open country. 



So far as is generally known, the Bluebird does not steal fruit or 

 eat the crops of the fanner. Its vegetable food consists of the berries 

 of the poison ivy, cedar and such other vines and trees as provide food 



iAfter Beal, Farmers' Bulletin No. 5i, Office of Experiment Stations, U. S. Departynent 



of Agriculture. ) 



for birds during the winter. I have seen it eat mistletoe berries. In 

 the Bureau of Biological Survey at Washington the contents of 300 

 Bluebirds ' stomachs showed that 76 per cent, of their food for the entire 

 year consisted of insects and their allies; 28 per cent, of their food was 

 iDeetles of various kinds. The bird is a great destroyer of grasshoppers, 

 and during August and September 60 per cent, of its diet is of this 

 character. The Bluebird appears to be popular and beneficial wherever 

 found, and should be encouraged at all times to dwell on the farm. 



HOW TO ATTRACT BIRDS. 



]\Iuch may be done with a very little troul)le to induce many species 

 of wild birds to come about the house. A short observation is suffi- 

 cient to demonstrate the facts relative to what Ijirds really require if 

 they are to stay about you. The conditions plainly necessaiy are: 

 Pirst, food; second, reasonable security from enemies; third, suitable 



