MAMMALOGY AND OEXITHOLOGY. 281 



In the first of these sub-orders are incladed our humming birds, ( TrochilidcB,) 

 swifts, and chimney swallows, [Cypselidce,) and goat suckers, so called, [Capri- 

 mulgidcE.) 



These birds are all very beneficial. The humming birds of the United 

 States are of some importance to agriculture. Their beautiful forms and 

 plumage, and their fiimiliar habits have endeared them to the farmers, whu 

 pitied them, and even encouraged their presence in various ways. Their food 

 consist-s principally of small insects which harbor in flowers; these they capture 

 by thrusting their long tongues into the flowers, and securing them by the 

 action of the saliva. 



Our chimney swallows, familiar representatives of the family CfipseVulcB, are 

 very beneficial in consequence of the immense numbers of insects they destroy. 

 These birds are almost constantly on the wing from early dawn un:il late in 

 the night, and the noxious insects which entirely compose their food, are 

 ahvays taken while flying. They seem to constitute, with the other swallows 

 and hight-flying insectivorous birds, the extreme outer circle for the destruction 

 of the insects, apparently created to secure those which have escaped their 

 other enemies on or ncnr the earth. They should be protected and encouraged 

 instead of destroyed, as too many are by the superstitious or ignorant, who 

 drive them from their dwellings because of the absurd belief that they bring 

 Lil-luck. This is but one of the ridiculous fancies too prevalent among our 

 rural population at the present enlightened period. 



In the CapriniulgidcB are included our whip-poor-will and night hawk. 

 These birds are almost entirely nocturnal in habits ; they subsist entirely upon 

 nocturnal insects, mostly Licpidoptcra, of"*'which they destroy great numbers. 

 There is an absurd notion prevalent in some districts of the United States that 

 if the whip-poor-will sings on the door step of a dwelling-house, it foreruns 

 the death of some member of the family in that house. This belief has caused 

 the destruction of multitudes of these birds, the farmer or others almost always 

 killing them whenever met with. It is almost incredible to what an extent 

 these absurdities are carried, and if they were harmless they would be ludi- 

 crous ; but unfortunately Jhey are not. The mole is killed because, if it runs 

 against the leg of a cow, she will go lame. The toad is destroyed because it 

 spits in the eyes of cattle and blinds them. Snakes are invariably killed be- 

 cause they are disagreeable looking, and so on in all cases, to the damage of 

 the farmer, for these animals are his friends, and are continually active in his 

 interests. 



CLAMATORES, (SCRE.VMERS.) 



The families in this order in the United States are the Alcedinidce (kinf 

 fishers) and Col copter idcB, (fly-catchers.) The former of these families is of no 

 importance to agriculture, as the birds subsist entirely upon fish, which they 

 capture by diving for them in the water while on the wing. It is in the 

 CokoptcridcB that we find some of the most valuable and beneficial birds to 

 agriculture that we have. The king bird, Tyrannus caroVmensis, Baird, and 

 the pewees are familiar types of this family, and their habits are so well known 

 that it is hardly necessary to give them further mention here. Their food con- 

 sists entirely of insects, which they capture while on the wing, not in the man- 

 ner that swallows practice, and which is necessary from their conformation, 

 but in and among the trees, where they destroy immense multitudes of noxious 

 Lepidoptera, and often Orthoptera. In capturing these insects, the fly-catchers 

 remain perched on the tree until they fly into the air, when the birds pounc« 

 upon them and destroy them. They constitute the next circle to the swallows 

 in the cordon surrounding the insect world. 



