12 SEVENTH REPORT OF THE FOREST, FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. 



was a scanty yield of apples from most of the trees. One or two bore quite 

 plentifully. 



" In order to observe the effect of the feeding of birds in the orchard no care was 

 taken in 1S94 to protect the trees. During that year the tent-caterpillars were very 

 numerous in the vicinity, and it became evident also that a great increase in the 

 number of canker worms was taking place in the neighborhood. Although these 

 insects made considerable inroads upon the trees, they did not seriously injure the 

 foliage anywhere except in one or two instances. No attempt had been made pre- 

 vious to 1895 to foster or encourage the birds in the neighborhood, except that a few 

 nesting boxes were put up in 1894, which were occupied in one case by a family of 

 Wrens, and in another by the English or House Sparrow. We were careful, how- 

 ever, to destroy the nests of the House Sparrow. 



" In the fall of 1894 it was noticed that immense numbers of the wingless females 

 of the fall canker worm (Anisopteryx pometarid) were ascending nearly all the trees 

 and depositing their eggs; also, that the eggs of tent-caterpillar moths were numer- 

 ous on the twigs, promising a plentiful supply for 1895. 



" Having allowed the insects one year to increase unmolested by man, we began 

 in the winter of 1894-95 to encourage the presence of birds in the orchard. 



" In 1894 a small tree in the center of the orchard had been inclosed by a high 

 board fence. The tree thus inclosed was used as an out-door experiment station for 

 observations on the breeding and habits of the gypsy moth. During the winter of 

 1894-95, Mr. C. E. Baily made frequent visits to this tree to ascertain whether or 

 not the birds were destroying the eggs of the gypsy moth. Incidentally, Mr. Bail)' 

 observed many interesting things in connection with the feeding of birds on the 

 eggs, larva; and pupa; of insects which winter on the trees, and I am greatly 

 indebted to him for many interesting notes on the feeding of birds in this orchard. 

 He is a careful, conscientious observer, and is intimately acquainted with most of 

 our native land birds. 



" Hunters and trappers are aware that many species of winter birds, such as Tit- 

 mice, Woodpeckers, Crows, Jays and Nuthatches, are attracted by a skinned carcass 

 suspended from a limb, and will remain in the vicinity until all the bones are picked 

 clean, or until, with the approach of spring, insect food becomes more accessible. 



" Believing from my own observations that the Chickadees {Parus atricapillus) 

 were feeding on the eggs of the fall canker worm, I asked Mr. Baily to attract the 

 birds, if possible, to the orchard, by suspending pieces of meat, bone, suet, from the 

 trees. These food materials are good for birds at times when the trees are covered 

 with snow or ice, and when, lacking such nourishment, the)- might starve. Although 



