SHRIKES, WAXWINGS, SWALLOWS, AND TANAGERS. 129 



fessor Forbes had eaten ants, wasps, ichneumon-flies, ground- 

 beetles, fungus-beetles, curculios, leaf-beetles, two-winged flies, 

 and certain bugs. The benefits derived from this bird appear 

 to be much greater than any injury it may do in eating para- 

 sitic insects. 



The White-bellied Swallow appears to be less generally 

 abundant than the last-named species. It is found throughout 

 temperate North America, migrating early in autumn to the 

 Southern States and beyond. Its nest is built in holes in 

 dead stumps, especially those standing in shallow water, 

 although in some localities the birds are taking to martin- 

 boxes for the purpose. The food consists of dragon-flies, 

 the smaller species of which these birds feed upon to a con- 

 siderable extent, crane-flies and other Diptera, winged plant- 

 lice, grasshoppers, weevils, click-beetles, rove-beetles, and 

 various other Coleoptera, winged ants, ichneumon-flies, and 

 many other insects. In autumn, just before leaving for the 

 South, these and other swallows feed largely on the fruit of 

 the bayberry or waxberry (Myrica cerifera). The fact that 

 many dragon-flies are eaten by this bird apparently indicates 

 that it is not an unmixed blessing, but in our present igno- 

 rance of the precise economic status of these insects compara- 

 tively little weight can be given to this circumstance. 



The Bank-Swallow is the most widely distributed American 

 member of its family. Besides America it occurs in Europe, 

 Asia, and Africa. It breeds abundantly in holes made in 

 natural or artificial embankments, and, unfortunately, suffers 

 largely in many parts of the United States from the budding 

 scientists of juvenile age who rob birds' nests for the sake of 

 the eggs. The young are fed on grasshoppers and other 

 insects ; the adults are insectivorous, although they often eat 

 the fruit of the bayberry late in summer or early in autumn. 



No swallow is more familiar about the haunts of man than 

 the Purple Martin. It is an abundant species and readily 

 nests in boxes provided for the purpose. It is a great insect- 



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