38 PROTECTIOiSJ OF PLA^^TS, 1920-21 



may be made the centre of amusing and beneficial activity as well as most cheer- 

 ful music if we will locate it in a reasonably secluded but accessible place. The 

 marshwrens build many globular nests among the cattails, and sing deUghtfuUy 

 as they rise in short flights. Nuthatches and chickadees are seen in southern 

 Canada mostly in the late fall and winter, the former searching the trunks of 

 trees, the latter the smaller branches, for insects or their eggs or cocoons. 



Canadian thrushes are,with a few notable exceptions,shy birds of deep thick- 

 ets, or evergreen forests, from which their ringing but Uquid notes may be heard 

 at sunset. Our robin and bluebird are the members of the family which have 

 shown a decided preference for the vicinity of man's buildings and orchards. 

 Here they gratify his eye and ear from early spring until forced by cold and 

 hunger to migrate southward. The robin may become a nuisance where small 

 fruits are raised for market, but almost all its annual activity is for the benefit 

 and pleasure of its human neighbors, in whom it has such confidence. Nearly 

 one half its food is known to be of insects and worms, and except for a few weeks 

 the remainderis of wild fruits. Few of us can show so excellent a life record 

 as these cheerful and tuneful allies. 



ADDRESS BY Mr. A. GIBSON, DOMINION ENTOMOLOGIST 



Mr. Gibson gave a sketch of the various branch laboratories at Annapolis 

 Royal, N. S., Fredericton, N. B., Hemmingford, Que., Vineland, Ont., Fries- 

 bank, Man., Saskatoon, Sask., Lethbridge, Alta., and Agassiz, B.C., and des- 

 cribed the nature of the work carried on. He also sketched the work^done in 

 connection with Forest Insects and the European Corn Borer. 



The address was illustrated fully by means of lantern slides. 



