10 THE EXTENSION 
the United States. Another investigator estimates that 21,- 
000 bushels of insects are eaten daily in Massachusetts by 
the birds. Another that 170 carloads of insects are de- 
stroyed in Nebraska each day. A pair of nesting Wrens 
has been observed to take over 600 insects from a garden in 
one day, while investigation shows that 98 per cent of the 
food of Wrens consists of insects. A young Robin in one 
day ate 165 cutworms while another young Robin ate from 
50 to 75 ecutworms per day for a 15 day period. A study 
of 330 stomachs of Robins shows that 42 per cent of the 
food was animal matter largely insects and their larvae 
and 47 per cent wild, not tame, fruit. One Chickadee had 
454 plant lee in its stomach. A Cedar Waxwing’s stomach 
contained 100 cankerworms, that of a Nighthawk 60 grass- 
hoppers, that of a Flicker 1000 chinch bugs. A Maryland 
Yellowthroat was reckoned as having eaten 3,500 plant 
lice in 40 minutes. Insects and their allies constituted 76 
per cent of the contents of 205 Bluebird stomachs. Cater- 
pillars made up 34 per cent of the stomach contents of 113 
Baltimore Orioles. Stomachs of 238 Meadowlarks examined 
showed 73 per cent animal matter, nearly all insects. Grass- 
hoppers and Crickets were the important items of the bill 
of fare being 29 per cent average for the entire year and 
60 per cent for August. During August and September the 
food was 99 per cent insects. Space will not permit the 
giving of further data, but those who are interested are 
referred to the list of bulletins beyond in which a wealth 
of important information may be found. 
Birds and Rodents. The amount of damage done each 
year by small rodents such as_ rabbits, hares, gophers, 
ground-squirrels and prairie-dogs is usually fairly well ap- 
preciated. The number of different species of mice which 
the biological survey work has shown to be present, hiding 
not only about houses, barns, granaries and meadows but 
along fence-rows, sloughs and strips of timber, with their 
enormous possibilities of increase and mischief to crops, 
stored grain and trees is not so well understood. Neither 
is the important work of hawks and owls in holding these 
pests in check at all adequately realized. Deep-seated pre- 
judice against these birds still holds sway. Farmers and 
hunters shoot them down at sight with little thought of the 
loss which this thoughtless destruction may entail. The 
possibilities of loss through this condition of affairs was set 
forth with remarkable clearness in 1886 by Dr. C. Hart 
Merriam, for many years Chief of the U. S. Biological 
