USEFUL BIRDS. 13 
builds a coarse nest of grass and mud, frequently in evergreens, or 
even in niches in the cornices of public buildings. We have found 
them as far north as Otter Tail County the latter part of October. 
BLUEBIRD. 
@elate 3, his." 19:) 
Too well known to need detailed description. Found through 
the United States, Canada, Mexico, and parts of Central America. 
Upper parts, including wings and tail, bright blue; breast, throat, 
and sides, reddish. Iength, seven inches. It is of wide distribution, 
from the Atlantic to the Rockies, and from Canada to the Gulf of 
Mexico. Its note is among the first to be heard in the spring, and 
one of the last in the fall, at which latter time we associate it with 
the falling leaves of Indian summer. To the writer, its note in the 
fall has always appeared to take on additional sadness, as though 
lamenting the dying of the year. It nests in hollow trees and in 
boxes erected in suitable places, and should be encouraged by pro- 
viding it with plenty of such opportunities for housekeeping. An 
examination of two hundred and five stomachs showed that seventy- 
six per cent of the food consisted of insects and their allies, while 
twenty-four per cent is made up of vegetable substances. Beetles 
constitute twenty-eight per cent of the whole food; grasshoppers, 
twenty-two; caterpillars, eleven; and various insects, including 
spiders, comprise the remainder of diet. All these insects are more 
or less harmful, except a few predaceous beetles, which amount to 
eight per cent. Prof. S. A. Forbes of Illinois examined one hundred 
and eight specimens secured in every month except November and 
January, and results of these examinations prove that although the 
bluebird eats some insects which are beneficial, and occasionally 
takes a raspberry or gooseberry, it consumes such an immense 
number of injurious insects, cut worms, and army worms, moths 
grasshoppers. and crickets, that it is undoubtedly a beneficial bird. 
Nestlings of the bluebird, like the young of almost all of our 
common birds, are fed an enormous quantity of insects. These 
birds have been known to arrive in the vicinity of Minneapolis 
as early as January, but generally they need not be looked for 
until late in March. They remain with us until late in October 
and occasionally into November. 
