SUPPRESSION OF PESTS BY BIRDS McATEE. 427 



Respecting the suppression of climbing cutworms, O. E. Bremner 

 states (San Francisco, California, Mar. 16, 1908) : 



In the spring of 1905, a species of climbing cutworm, I am unable to say 

 what one, attacked the vineyards of the Italian-Swiss colony in Sonoma County, 

 on low land along the Russian River, and before we had a chance to do 

 anything had stripped 10 acres or more of every vestige of green, even the 

 stems and buds, back to the old wood. When I arrived on the scene where they 

 were destroying thousands by handpicking I found large numbers of crows 

 assembled [which] * * * were busily engaged in hunting out the fat worms. 

 There has not been a repetition of the attack since, and I attribute this at 

 least partly to the crows. 



The catalpa sphinx (Ceratomia catalpae) , which sometimes rapidly 

 defoliates extensive growths of catalpa, is said to be a favorite food 

 of cuckoos. Judge Lawrence C. Johnson is quoted 32 by C. V. Riley 

 as follows on this subject : 



While lying ill a few days at a hotel in Eutaw, Alabama, I could hear the 

 well-known notes of these birds as if in uncommon numbers. A large water-oak 

 (Q. phellos) shut out the prospect from my window; but the cuckoos frequently 

 lit in it, giving me a good view of them. There they were, both species — Coccyzus 

 erytlirophthalmus and C. americanus. The latter is more numerous in the 

 bottoms, but the river is only 2 miles away. The question with the sick man 

 was, What could be drawing these shy birds into the midst of a city? As soon 

 as I could walk out the mystery was explained. Across the street stood a line of 

 Catalpa (bignonioides) . Every caterpillar was cleaned off the upper branches. 

 Not one to be found much defoliated, except very near the ground. 



Another sphinx caterpillar, the common tomato worm, although a 

 large, repulsive-looking creature, is eaten by several kinds of birds, 

 and at times by the crow, at least to a very effective extent. Mr. 

 Frank N. Wallace, State entomologist of Indiana, reported to an 

 agent of the Biological Survey that he had observed crows clean up a 

 potato patch infested by tomato sphinx caterpillars, eating some and 

 killing the others, and Mr. A. W. Butler, of the same State, says 33 

 that an observing farmer near Indianapolis reports that — 



A year or two ago his tomato patch was infested with great numbers of 

 worms, and he was compelled to wage relentless warfare against the unwelcome 

 visitors. One day he observed a crow acting in an unusual manner among his 

 plants. Upon investigation he found it was eating " tomato worms." The next 

 day more crows were seen among the vines, and for a few days the company 

 increased, until quite a number daily sought his tomato plants, depending upon 

 the insects caught for their food. This was continued until the " worms were 

 all killed." 



The army worm, a pest almost as spectacular and destructive in its 

 invasions as the Rocky Mountain locust, is known to be freely eaten 

 by many kinds of birds, but usually occurs in such numbers that the 

 birds are unable to cope with it. In some cases, however, great execu- 



33 Rep. Comm. Agr., p. 415, 1884. 

 M The Birds of Indiana, 1890, p. 65. 



