53 



Btrds that Destroy GrzVpes. 



By Amos W. Butler. 



I;i my ivi)ort (lu the Birds of Iiidiana, LS'.tT,' I referred to my oI)serva- 

 tioii.s coucerniiig the grape-eating habits of the Euglisli sparrow. On 

 anotlier page reference is made to a similar reported habit wliich I have 

 never observed myself of the Baltimore Oriole." Also note is made of the 

 grape punetnring liabit of the Tennessee Warbler,'- which I have smce had 

 excellent opportnnities several times to note. 



The fall of IMl, while an invalid, I spent nuich tinu" in a large porch 

 swing l)eneath our grape arbor at my home at Irviugton, Indiana. In this 

 way I had an excellent opportunity to observe the birds found among the 

 grapevines and note their habits. In the fall of 1912, I made some 

 further observjitions. We had both years the following kinds of grapes in 

 l>earing, Catawba, Concord, Brighton, AYorden, Moore's Eaxiy. Delaware 

 and an unknown variety. In 1912 we had in addition Niagara fruiting. 

 Those trained upon the arbor were all of two kinds, Concord, and tlie 

 unknown variety — mostly the former. In 1911 the vines bore very heavily 

 and generally both bunches and berries were undersized. In 1912 the 

 Catawba and Concords upon the arbor bore fewer grapes, mostly of small 

 size and ripened unevenly. The same varieties in other situations bore 

 better fruit. The behavior of the birds too was different. While the first 

 year mentioned there were a number of robins among the vines, the most 

 notable visitors and by far the most destructive were two kinds of war- 

 blers, the Tennessee Warbler and the Cape May Warbler. 



The second year these warblers were few and inconspicuous and there 

 were more kinds of birds about the grapes. These included great numbei's 

 of robins, mostly migrants, together with many more Eliglish Sparrows and 

 Bronzed Crackles. Flickers, and Blue Jays which feasted upon the fruit. 



1911. 

 Sept. 9. Cape May Warbler, one puncturing grapes. 

 Sept. 10. Cape May Warbler, one puncturing grapes. 

 Sept. 10. Tennessee Warbler, two. 



1 Report of state geologist, 1897, pp. 937-8. 

 = Ibid, p. 904. 

 3 Ibid, p. 1037. 



