TRAFTON 



THE THRUSH FAMILY 



187 



group destroying many insect pests. Insects comprise more than 

 half of their food, the remainder being composed chiefly of wild 

 fruit. The robin does some harm to cultivated fruit, but this is 

 more than balanced by the injurious insects eaten. The thrushes 

 all eat a few beneficial insects, but this is small when compared 

 with the injurious insects eaten. 



The following table gives a brief summary of the food habits of 

 some of the thrushes as determined by the studies made by the 

 Bureau of Biological Survey: 



*(Practically no harm is done by the olive-backed and Wilson's thrushes in eating culti- 

 vated fruit, because most of it is either waste fruit or is taken from wild plants.) 



A Hermit Thrush at the Lunch Counter 



