Preface. 



In preparing and submitting this report the fact has been 

 kept in mind that the material prosperity of the state and 

 nation depends ver}- largely on agricultural pursuits. An 

 attempt has been made, therefore, to make the volume ser- 

 viceable to both agriculturist and horticulturist. The author 

 of this report believes, with Townend Glover, that an ac- 

 quaintance with the useful birds of the farm is as important 

 to the farmer as is a knowledge of the insect pests which 

 attack his cro})s. Those who open this volume expecting 

 to hnd within its covers a guide to the birds, a manual 

 for the collector, or a systematic account of the birds of 

 Massachusetts, will be disappointed, for its scope is chiefly 

 economic. 



The plan of the report as outlined before the legislative 

 committees has been followed to the letter. 



In undertaking the work, the author has attempted to 

 counteract in some measure the eflects of some phases of 

 modern civilization and intensive farming which operate to 

 destroy or drive out the birds ; and it is ho})ed that the book 

 will 1)6 of some service as a source of useful information for 

 the liird protectionist. As no report prepared \vith such a 

 purpose can exert much influence unless widely read, it has 

 been written in a popular style, with little scientific verbiage. 



A part of the material was pre[)ared between the years 

 1891 and 1900, during the author's experience as field di- 

 rector for the State Board of Agriculture in the work of 

 destroying the gipsy moth. Chapters I. and II. are partly 

 composed of revised and rewritten portions of papers pub- 

 lished during that time. Chapter III. is based largely on 

 observations made during that period liy two faithful, capable 

 workers, — Messrs. C. E. Bailey and F. H. Mosher. Owing 



