Report of Missouri Farmers' Week. 553 



about the orchard. I have seen catbirds carrying away berries 

 from my garden, and by watching them soon, observed that they 

 were also taking cabbage worms to feed the young in the nest near- 

 by. Since the Russian mulberries, planted for their benefit, came 

 into bearing, they have taken but few berries. (See Nature and 

 Culture, October, 1912. Pro. la. Acad. Sci., 1912.) 



THE CUCKOO. 



There are two species of cuckoos common about our orchards, 

 the yellow-billed and black-billed cuckoos. They are commonly 

 called raincrows and are rather shy in their habits. The one shown 

 in the picture on the boy's hand did not seem to be in. good health. 

 While I have found it possible to cultivate intimate friendship with 

 many birds, never so far have I been able to gain the confidence of a 



The Yellow-billed Cuckoo. 



yellow-billed cuckoo, excepting the one shown in the photo. These 

 birds are fond of hairy caterpillars, and assist the blue jay in 

 ridding the orchard of such pests. One specimen is reported from 

 Washington as having eaten 217 fall web worms at one meal. An- 

 other had eaten 250 tent caterpillars. It is a well-known fact that 

 these birds live very largely on caterpillars, such as cankerworms 

 and others injurious in the orchard. The two species of cuckoos 

 are very similar in appearance. 



THE WOODPECKERS. 



There are four species of woodpeckers common in Missouri. 

 Others are occasionally seen, but aside from the four, none are 

 numerous enough to be of much economic importance. The downy 

 woodpecker and hairy woodpecker are both small in size and black 



