USEFUL BIRDS. a 
has a somewhat more northerly range. The writer has collected 
both old and young of the red-breasted nuthatch at St. Vincent in 
August, and it perhaps finds there its southern limit in this State. 
CHIPPING SPARROW: “CHIPPIE.” 
(Plate Tewitic. Gs) 
One of our most common garden birds; unobtrusive, useful and 
welcome; easily recognized by its modest grayish and brownish 
colors and the chestnut or bay patch on top of head. Furthermore, 
it is very friendly; its somewhat monotonous “chipping” note is a 
common sound in many gardens and dooryards in this country. 
Eats seed in the fall, at which time its colors change somewhat. 
During the summer, it helps destroy various insects, including 
caterpillars, beetles, plant lice, etc. The chipping sparrow is a 
little over five inches long. Nests in trees or vines near house or in 
garden or orchard; nest generally lined with horsehair; eggs, four 
or five, bluish, with blackish or brownish markings. 
YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO. 
(Plate 2 igs 75) 
A shy bird with back and long tail a fashionable brown; under 
parts, white; lower half of bill, yellow, except at tip. Constructs 
a loose nest of twigs and lays therein three, four, or five pale-green 
eggs, unmarked. This bird is generally silent but at times gives 
utterance to a note repeated in such a way that it sounds like some 
one calling the cows. Because this is heard sometimes in lowering 
weather preceding rain, the bird is called by many “rain crow.” 
Without doubt one of our most useful birds and one of the few 
which will eat hairy caterpillars, such as tent caterpillars and fall 
web worms. Henshaw (U. S. Dept. Agr., Farmers’ Bulletin 513) 
reports that one stomach which was examined contained two 
hundred and fifty American tent caterpillars; another two hundred 
and seventeen fall web worms. 
The Black Billed Cockoo is perhaps more common in Minnesota 
and more generally met with than the above species. 
RED-EYED VIREO. 
(Plate 2, His ss) 
Who has not heard and enjoyed the song of this bird emanating 
from shade trees along a village street on a hot day in summer? 
It is heard at a time when other birds are silent, and if one sees 
