290 INDIRECT BENEFITS DERIVED FROM INSECTS. 



tells US that singing birds are fed in France with the 

 larvae of Formica rufa. 



But the Linnean order oiPasseres affords the greatest 

 number of insectivorous birds ; indeed almost all the 

 species of this order, except perhaps the Columba? and 

 the crossbill, and other Loxis, more or less eat insects. 

 Amongst the thrush tribe, the blackbird, though he will 

 have his share of our gooseberries and currants, assists 

 greatly in clearing our gardens of caterpillars ; and the 

 locust-eating thrush is still more useful in the countries 

 subject to that dreadful pest : these birds never appear 

 but with the locusts, and then accompany them in asto- 

 nishing numbers, preying upon them in their larva 

 state. The common sparrow, though proscribed as a 

 most mischievous bird, destroys a vast number of in- 

 sects. Bradley has calculated that a single pair having 

 young to maintain, will destroy 3360 caterpillars in a 

 week^. They also prey upon butterflies and other 

 winged insects. The fly-catchers (3Iusdcapa) and the 

 warblers (3Iotacilla), which include our sweetest song- 

 sters, are almost entirely supported by insects ; so that 

 were it not for these despised creatures we should be 

 deprived of some of our greatest pleasures, and half 

 the interest and delight of our vernal walks would be 

 done away. Our groves would no longer be vocal ; our 

 little domestic favourites the red-breast and the wren 

 would desert us ; and the heavens would be depopu- 

 lated. — We should lose too some of the most esteemed 

 dainties of our tables, one of which, the wheat-ear, is 

 said to be attracted to our downs by a particular insect •'. 

 Lastly, insects are the sole food of swallows, which are 



» Reaum. ii. 408. " Bingley, ii. 374. 



