Eighth Report of the State Ei^tomologist. 237 



enemies who peraistently seek them for food, and by the h\rge 

 numbei's that they devour greatly mitigate the injuries that their 

 unchecked increase would otherwise cause. Several of our com- 

 mon birds render effective service in this direction. Foremost 

 among these is the robin, of wliich it has been said : '' Its eminently 

 terrestrial habits, its fondness for larva^ of various kinds, and its 

 ability to obtain those that are hidden beneath the turf, give 

 it a usefulness in destroying cut-wormis which no other bird pos- 

 sesses in the same degree, and for this feature in its economy alone, 

 ite greater abundance should be encouraged. Earlj^ in the morn- 

 ing, and toward the close of the evening, the robin may often 

 be seen seiarching for cut-worms in lawns, pastures, and meadows, 

 and when thus engaged it hops about, gazing apparently more 

 at distant objects than searching for something near at hand; then, 

 suddenly, it commences tearing up the old grass and turf with its 

 bill, and, in another instant, it stands triumphant with its wrig- 

 gling prize in its bill, for it rarely digs in vain. I have seen a robin 

 capture, in this manner, five cut-worms in less than ten minut'CS, 

 and five other birds within view were doing the same work." 



Other birds that are known to prey upon cut- worms are the 

 cat-bird (J/iim'w* Carolinenis L.), the red-winged blackbird {Agel- 

 (jeeus PhceniceusJj) , and the purple gracMe {Quisoalus purpureus). 



Poultry-, and especially chickeus, are efficient destroyers of 

 them in gardens in the spring, when they scan closely the upturned 

 ground, and are quick to detect and devour them. 



Among the members of tiheir own class that feed upon them, is 

 the larva of a ground-beetle, known as Calosonia calidum (Fabr.). 

 It is so destructive to them, and attacks them with so much 

 energy, even if the worm be twice its size, that it has been des- 

 ignated as the " cut-worm lion." 



The larva of another beetle, Harpalus caliginosus (Fabr.), is 

 also its persistent enemy; and from its ferocity in seizing its 

 prey, and its strange, irregular form, it has been called the "cut- 

 worm's dragon." Dr. Fitch has written of it : " When not glutted 

 with food, it is running about incessantly in search of these worms, 

 and slays them without mercy; with its powerful jaws seizing 

 them, commonly by the throat, and, regardless of their violent 



