374 



USEFUL BIRDS. 



which birds eat in winter. The ehiis ripen their seeds 

 early, thus providing bird food in June, while their branches 

 furnish favorite nesting places for Robins, Orioles, and 

 Vireos. The span worms which infest these trees are sought 

 bj nearly all small land birds. The maples are favoiite 



nesting trees, and 

 their seeds, Avhicli 

 sometimes remain 

 on the trees, form a 

 staple article of food 

 for the Pine Gros- 

 l)eak. The seeds 

 of the ash are eaten 

 by Grosbeaks and 

 Purple Finches. 

 Among the conifer- 

 ous trees none are 

 more attractive to 



Fig. 157. — Seed catkins of the grav birch. . . i • i ,i 



certain birds than 

 the white pine, the pitch pine, and the larch or hackmatack. 

 The first two offer insect food to many Warblers ; their cones 

 and shoots are utilized by birds and squirrels in winter. The 

 spruces and hemlocks also have their following among the 

 birds. These conifers are valuable for the shelter they pro- 

 vide in winter to all birds, from Owls to Sparrows. 



There are numerous fruit-bearing trees, shrubs, and vines 

 that are essential to bird welfare. In the present state of 

 our knowledge of bird food it Avould not be difficult to name 

 most of these plants, giving with each a provisional list of 

 the birds that feed upon it ; but it will be sufficient for the 

 present purpose to give merelv a list of the plants, indicat- 

 ing by an asterisk wdiich are among the most important as 

 furnishino; food for a laro^e number of ))irds. 



A List of Fruit-bearing Trees, Shrid>s, and Vines furnishing Food for 



Birds 

 Wild sarsaparilla, ..... Aralia niidicaulis. 



* American mountain ash, . . ^ . Sorhus americana. 



* European mountain ash, . . , o Sorbus Aucuparia. 



* Staghoni sumach, . . , . » » BJms tyiihina. 



