178 HALF HOUliS WITH INSECTS. [Packard. 



usual haunts and visit the fruit trees wliich are covered with 

 canker worms and kxrgely devour them. 



'In reference to the currant saw fly worm (Nematus ventri- 

 cosus) I am not certain that I have seen an}' birds eat them, 

 5^et I think the truly insectivorous species will do this.' 



"That the Baltimore oriole sometimes eats large quantities 

 of the American tent caterpillar {Clisiocanvpa Americana)^ 

 since tliey have been found in the stomach of this bird by 

 Mr. Maynard, is an interesting fact, for birds as a rule do 

 not relish hsdvy caterpillars, and the Anaerican tent caterpil- 

 lar is covered with long hairs, though they are not so dense 

 as in some other larvae. In Europe the closely allied tent 

 caterpillar (C neustria), and those of the Cnethocampa and 

 Liparis chrysorrhasa are said by Perris and others to be 

 almost untouched by birds. I have been told by Dr. T. M. 

 Brewer of Boston that the English sparrows upon the com- 

 mon devoured all the caterpillars of the tussock moth (Or- 

 gyia) which were injuring a fine tree. These caterpillars are 

 very hair}', being adorned with pencils and tufts of long 

 hairs. 



"Mr. John H. Sears, of Danvers, Mass., who has paid 

 much attention to the habits of our birds, informs me that 

 the cuckoo, which breeds near houses, is an exceedingly 

 useful bird, as it devours the canker worms in large num- 

 bers. It is well that this should be known, as there is a 

 popular prejudice against this bird, from its habit of suck- 

 ing the eggs, as well as laying its eggs in the nests, of 

 other birds. Among the birds which he has himself ob- 

 served in the act of eating canker worms, are the king 

 bird, the Baltimore oriole, the cat bird, the common fl}'- 

 catcher, the least flycatcher or wood pewee, the red eyed 

 vireo and a few other small birds, such as certain war- 

 blers and flycatchers. The king bird in the month of 

 May feeds on May beetles, as stated by Mr. J. L. Hersey, 

 in this journal. 



IS 



