28 NEBRASKA ORNITHOLOGISTS' UNION 



cessantly in the terminal foliag-e of the tallest trees; others hug- close 

 to the scored trunks and gnarled boughs of the forest kings; some peep^ 

 from the thicket, coppice, the impenetrable mantle of shrubbery that 

 decks tiny water-courses, playing at hide-and-seek with all comers;, 

 others more humble still, descend to the ground, where they glide with, 

 pretty mincing steps and affected turning of the head this way and 

 that, their delicate flesh-tinted feet just stirring the layer of withered 

 leaves with which a past- season carpeted the ground. We may seek 

 warblers everywhere in the season; we shall find them a continued sur- 

 prise; all mood and circumstance is theirs." 



;Much could be written concerning the food-habits of the various 

 members of the group of Thrushes, Mocking-birds and Wrens. Three 

 of the species at least are known to be more or less destructive to- 

 fruits, viz.. Catbird, Brown Thrasher, and Mocking-bird. Still, if we 

 take into account what these birds eat during the entire time spent 

 within the state, the balance sheet stands in favor of the birds as in- 

 sect destroj^ers. The Avrens are j)re-eminently insect destroyers, and 

 the others are not much behind them in this respect. 



The members of the family of Nuthatches and Tits feed for the most 

 part on insects. But we lack very definite figures regarding the kinds- 

 and numbers of insects that each destroys. We can be sure, however,, 

 that any favors shown them will not be thrown away. 



The Thrushes, Solitaires, Bluebirds, etc., are all beneficial as insect 

 destroyers, and might be well comiDared with the Eobin, which is de- 

 scribed quite fully beyond, only they are even less liable to commit in- 

 juries to fruits. 



The Robin has certainly been accused often enough of being a. 

 first-class rascal to warrant the belief that there must be at least 

 some grounds for such accusations being made. In his examination 

 of 114 stomachs of this bird, taken during ten months of the year, 

 Professor Forbes, of Illinois, found the contents to consist of 65 per- 

 cent insects and 34 per cent of fruits and seeds. In the estimates of 

 these food percentages taken by the Robin, as well as by other birds,, 

 bulk for bulk is taken, i. e., a quart of caterpillars or other insects is. 

 equivalent to a quart of cherries or a quart of berries. Professor Forbes 

 asks this question: "Will the destruction of seventeen quarts of aver- 

 age caterpillars, including at least eight quarts of cut-worms, pay for 

 twenty-four quarts of cherries, blackberries, currants, and grapes?"' 

 and then answers it in these words: "To this question I, for my own 

 part, can only reply that I do not believe that the horticulturist can 

 sell his small fruits anywhere in the ordinary markets of the world 

 at so high a price as to the Robin, provided that he uses proper dili- 

 gence that the little huckster doesn't overreach him in the bargain." 

 Miich more might be said in favor of the Robin had I the time and 

 space at my command. 



After having carefully scanned the foregoing notes concerning the 



