MOTH-EATING BIRDS. 



207 



give public expression to their appreciation of tlie value of 

 birds as destroyers of noxious insects.* 



A study of the food of insect-eating birds leads to the belief 

 that if in any way their numl^ers and efficiency can be aug- 

 mented, an increase in agricultural products will be secured. 



Birds seen to feed upon the Gypsy Moth. 

 Thirty-eight species of birds have been identified when 

 feeding upon the gypsy moth in one or more of its forms. 

 They are as follows : — 



Yellow-billed cuckoo, . 



Black-billed cuckoo, 



Hairy woodpecker, 



Downy woodpecker, 



Pigeon woodpecker. 



King bird, 



Great-crested flycatcher, 



Phojbe, . 



Wood pewee, 



Least flycatcher, 



Blue jay, 



Crow, . 



Baltimore oriole, 



Purple grackle or crow blackbird. 



Chipping sparrow, 



Chewink, 



Rose-breasted grosbeak, 

 Indigo bird, . . . 

 Scarlet tanager, .... 

 Red-eyed vireo, .... 



Coccyzus americanns. (Linn.) 

 Coccyzus erythrox>hthahnus. (Wils.) 

 Dryobates villostis. (Linn.) 

 Dry abates jiubescens. (Linn.) 

 Colaptcs auratus. (Linn.) 

 Tyrannus tyranmis. (Linn.) 

 Myiarchus crinitus. (Linn.) 

 Sayornis phcebe. (Lath ) 

 Contopus virens. (Linn.) 

 Emjyidonax minimus. Baird. 

 Cyanocitta cristata. (Linn.) 

 Corvus ame7'icanus. Aud. 

 Icterus galbula. (Linn.) 

 Quiscalus quiscula. (Linn.) 

 Spizella socialis. (Wils.) 

 Ft]nIo eryihrophthalimis. (Linn.) 

 Habia ludoviciana. (Linn ) 

 Passerina cymiea. (Linn.) 

 Piranga erythromclas. Vieill. 

 Vireo olivaceus. (Linn.) 



* Townend Glover, first entomologist of the United States Department of Agri- 

 culture, wrote in 1871 : " Insectivorous birds are the best allies of the farmer, and 

 were they all destroyed there is little doulit that it would be almost impossible to 

 raise certain crops." (Report of the United States Commissioner of Agriculture, 

 1871, page 71.) 



He also wrote: " A knowledge of their nature and habits is of as much impor- 

 tance to the farmer and fruit culturist as is the science of entomology." (Report of 

 the United States Commissioner of Agriculture, 1865, page 36.) 



Prof. C. v. Riley, late entomologist of the Department of Agriculture, has testified 

 to the utility of birds as follows : " Few injurious insects can be well and fully 

 considered without reference to their liability to be devoured by various natural 

 enemies, and especially birds." (Report of the United States Commissioner of 

 Agriculture, 1885, page 210.) 



Prof. John B. Smith, State entomologist of New Jersey, in an address to the 

 farmers of New Jersey, said: "Take care of your natural friends! Among these 

 the birds rank highest." ("Insecticides, and how to apply them," seventeenth 

 annual report of the New Jersey State Board of Agriculture, 1889-90, pages 294, 295.) 



