60 SEVENTH RETORT OF THE FOREST, FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. 



" It will be seen from this table that the average number of eggs found in each 

 moth is 185. Mr. Bailey is very positive, from his continuous field observations, that 

 each Chickadee will devour on the average 30 female canker-worm moths per day 

 from the 20th of March until the 15th of April, provided these insects are plentiful. 

 If the average number of eggs laid by each female is 185, one Chickadee would thus 

 destroy in one day 5,550 eggs; and in the twenty-five days the canker-worm moths 

 ' run ' or crawl up the trees, 138,750. It may be thought that this computation is 

 excessive, and it is probable that some of the moths were not captured until they 

 had laid some of their eggs, but the Chickadees are also busy eating these eggs. 

 * * * When we consider further that 41 of these insects, distended as they were 

 with eggs, were found at one time in the stomach of one Chickadee, and that the 

 digestion of the bird is so rapid that its stomach was probably filled several times 

 daily, the estimate made by Mr. Bailey seems a very conservative one. He now 

 regards the Chickadee as the best friend the farmer has, for the reason that it is 

 with him all the year, and there is no bird that can compare with it in destroying 

 the female moths and their eggs." .(Forbush.) 



KINGLETS, GNATCATCHERS, ETC. Family Sylviidae. 



The small size of Kinglets combined with their great activity permits them to 

 explore the terminal buds more easily than larger birds could, and they therefore 

 occupy an important position in the army of bird tree protectors. 



Rusty-crowned Kinglet (Regains calendula). — "Of seven specimens examined, 

 two had eaten four small caterpillars; three, five beetles; one, an ant; one, a 

 chalcis-fly, and two bits of insects not identified." (King.) 



Golden-crowned Kinglet {Regulus satrapa).— " Of nine specimens examined 

 two had eaten twelve small diptera ; three, nine small beetles; one, four cater- 

 pillars; one, a small chrysalis, and three, very small bits of insects, too fine to be 

 identified." (King.) 



THRUSHES, BLUEBIRDS, ETC. Family Turdidaj. 



Robin (Merula migrator id).— "The Robin builds its nest in orchards and gar- 

 dens, and occasionally takes advantage of a nook about the house, or under the 

 shelter of the roof of a shed or outbuilding. Its food habits have sometimes caused 

 apprehension to the fruit grower, for it is fond of cherries and other small fruits, 

 particularly the earlier varieties. For this reason many complaints have been 

 lodged against it, and some persons have gone so far as to condemn the bird. The 



