Report of Missouri Farmers' Week. 555 



these boxes on our grounds for three successive years past and 

 reared their families therein. Red-headed woodpeckers and spar- 

 row hawks, neither of which supplies any nesting material, have 

 also utilized these boxes with apparent satisfaction. Sometimes 

 the red-heads and flickers contest very vigorously for the pos- 

 session of these desirable nesting places. In order to please the 

 birds, we find it necessary to place them on top of a pole about 

 twelve to fifteen feet from the ground and in the edge of the 

 grove, or nail them to the side of a tree well up toward the top 

 of the main body. Boxes half way up a tree, or on poles far from 

 other trees, do not seem to suit them, 



THE ORIOLES. 



The orioles with their bright colors and high hanging nests 

 are very attractive birds about a homestead. They destroy large 

 numbers of injurious caterpillars and other insects. On one oc- 

 casion I knew a pair of Baltimore orioles, together with wrens and 

 golden warblers, to rid a plum tree of plant lice after it was so 

 badly infested that it was apparently doomed. 



THE MOURNING DOVE. 



The mourning dove or turtledove is being very rapidly reduced 

 in numbers and if the present rate of decrease continues, will 

 shortly follow the passenger pigeon to oblivion. While it does not 

 eat insects, its habits are absolutely above reproach and it renders 

 much service in destroying weed seeds. It is unfortunate that in 

 some sections it is regarded as a game bird ; this fact, together with 

 the slow rate of increase, renders it exceedingly liable to extermina- 

 tion. 



THE GAME BIRD. 



The prairie hen is now so seldom met with in Missouri that 

 no hope is entertained that it will become re-established unless it 

 can be domesticated. While in days gone by this bird played an 

 important part in reducing the numbers of grasshoppers and other 

 insects, as well as weed seed, it can no longer be said to be of any 

 economic importance because of the small number still found within 

 the State. 



It is exceedingly unfortunate that the bobwhite or quail, 

 figure 8, should ever have been considered a game bird. It is of 

 a confiding nature, and where not persecuted will soon, come about 



