SUPPRESSION OF PESTS BY BIRDS — McATEE. 413 



could be seen on these grounds. Among these were various species of black- 

 birds, Bartrarnian and other plovers, quails, snipes, curlews, prairie-chickens, 

 and occasionally larks, and in June occasional orioles, sparrows, bobolinks, 

 and robins. Over a thousand birds must have been feeding here. Long before 

 the middle of June arrived most of the locusts had disappeared * * * 



During this same season [the spring of 18G5], many of the bluff lands west 

 of Dakota City, especially where there was new or old breaking, became the 

 feeding grounds of great numbers of prairie-chickens and plover. There were 

 then very few settlers there, many of them having left because of the locust 

 invasion of the preceding fall. But to me it was remarkable how rapidly the 

 young locusts disappeared where the prairie-chickens and plovers were daily 

 feeding. In such spots by the middle of June hardly a locust was left. 



At a point about 9 miles west of Ponka, on the Niobrara Road, the locust 

 hatched out as elsewhere in prodigious numbers. Here, however, there were 

 some fields that the yellow-headed blackbirds, the quails, and plovers visited 

 in such numbers that few locusts survived to injure the crops. I saw them at 

 work here, and a settler afterward told me that the birds scattered over wider 

 areas after the locust supply began to give out * * *. 



In the summer and fall of 1874 the locusts appeared in southeastern Ne- 

 braska in unusual numbers even for this region. In Lancaster County, where 

 the road to Milford crosses the Middle Creek, the blackbirds that were passing 

 southward so persistently fed on some spots as hardly to leave a locust behind. 



No Nebraskan will forget the countless number of young locusts that hatched 

 out in the spring of 1875. Only where they were removed by causes known 

 or unknown were crops produced during this season over the infested region. 

 Among the few causes operating in the destruction of locusts during that period 

 was the work of insectivorous birds. Among the spots that birds frequented 

 was one on the west side of Salt Creek, not more than 2 miles from Lincoln. 

 There was a small area of about 320 acres that harbored an immense number 

 of locusts. The birds, however, made it one of their feeding grounds, and the 

 locusts lessened daily in numbers. Within a month hardly a locust was left. 

 Similar instances of the work of birds were observed farther down on Salt 

 Creek and on Middle Creek. 



In the spring of 1877 the locusts disappeared so rapidly from other causes 

 after they had hatched out that little opportunity was given to examine what 

 effect the birds had on them. Yet, on Middle Creek and its tributaries, and 

 in various other places, I could see that the birds sensibly and rapidly dimin- 

 ished their numbers. One notable point was a few miles down Salt Creek from 

 Lincoln. In May I visited the spot owing to the reported great numbers of 

 locusts there. I estimated the number when I visited the place to be about 

 135 to a square foot. Already the birds had discovered it, and within sight 

 were quail, larks, bobolinks, yellowheads, plovers, curlews, and a few prairie- 

 chickens. They were all apparently feeding on these locusts. With my glass 

 I could see them picking up these insects. In a month hardly a locust was 

 left at this place. 



The following letters, giving instances similar to the preceding of the good 

 deeds of birds, have been received in reply to my inquiries : 



" Deab Sir : In answer to your inquiries I have only this to say : During the 

 last season I planted a tract of Mr. Brentlinger's land, north of Omaha Creek, 

 in addition to my own, in corn. It was on new breaking, where the locusts had 

 laid their eggs. After planting my corn the locusts began to hatch, and in im- 

 mense numbers, and threatened to destroy all my corn. The blackbirds, how- 

 ever, in large numbers, commenced to feed on the locusts, and devoured them 

 almost as fast as they hatched out. This gave my corn a chance, and I obtained 



