OF THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 27 



A triangular channel will have some advantages over a rectan- 

 gular groove. 



I recollect reading in a number of the Western Rural of a very 

 good plan adopted by a Mr. Smith, of Des Moines, Iowa, for applying 

 coal-tar, molasses or other sticky substance. He first makes a slight 

 mound of earth around the tree, smoothing it at top ; brown wrap- 

 ping paper, to be smeared, is then tied around the tree and turned 

 down over the mound. The moisture of the earth prevents too rapid 

 drying of the tar, and the plan proves at the same time a preventive 

 of the Round-headed borer. 



Mr. J. W. Robson, in the Western Farmer for May, 1871, gave the 

 following testimony as to the birds which destroy this worm : 



The Blue-bird destroys large numbers, not of larvae alone, but of 

 fully developed moths in the fall, and again in the spring they return 

 just in time to devour the insect as it emerges from the soil. 



The Cedar-bird is another enemy. This little bird is a gross feeder, 

 and when the canker-worms appear in great numbers, as they some- 

 times do, it will come in large flocks and feed upon ihem day after 

 day till the pest is subdued. 



The Butcher-bird also feeds its young largely upon the larvae. 

 We well remember it clearing two trees literally covered with this 

 caterpillar, and so well did that pair of Shrikes do their work, that 

 these same trees have not been troubled with the insect since. 



In the American Naturalist (Vol. VIII, p. 271) Dr. Packard quotes 

 Mr. C. J. Maynard, of Ipswich, Mass., who has examined the stomachs 

 of some three thousand birds, as giving the following formidable list 

 of species which devour the Canker-worm: 



In answer to your questions relative to birds eating Canker-worms 

 and the larvce ol other injurious insects, I would say that upon exam- 

 ing my notes, I find tliat I have taken Canker-worms from the stom- 

 achs of the following species : 



Red-eyed Vireo ( Vireo olivaceus),Son g-sparrow ( Melospisa melo- 

 dia). Chickadee ( Parus atricapillus)^ Scarlet Tanager {Py langa 

 ruhray)^ Robin {Turdus 7nigratoi'ius)^ Black-billed Cuckoo {Coecyzus 

 erythrophthalnius). Wood Pewee iContopus vireus), Least Pewee 

 {E7npidonax minivius), Wilson's Thrush {Turdus fuscesce7is). Black 

 and White Creepers, Blue Yellow- backed Warbler (Parula Ameri- 

 <"«w«), Maryland YA\o\\-\\ivo2ii {Geothlypis ^;/'^■c/i«6•), Nashville War- 

 bler IlelminthopJtaga ruficapilla) Golden-crowned Thrush (Seiurus 

 utcrocapillus). Chestnut- sided Warbler {Dendroica Pennsylvauica), 

 Yellow Warbler {D. cestiva), Black-and-yellow Warbler (D. 7?iacu- 

 Zosa), Prairie Warbler (Z>. discolor), Black-polled Warbler (Z>. stri- 

 ata), Canada W a.rh\er (Alyiodiocies canadensis), Red-start {^Setopliaga 

 Tuticilla),Qied'AX-h\\'d {Ampelis cedrorum). Cat-bird {^Kimus caroli- 

 nensis). Purple Finch {Carpodacus purpureus). White-winged Cross- 

 bill {Ciirmrostra leucoptera),Q\\\\)^\\\g SpRvrow (Spizella socialis), 

 Indigo-bird {Gyannpisa cyanea),K^d-yfinged Black-bird, {Agelaius 

 phoeniceus). Crow Black-bird {Molothrus pecorus), Bob-olink {Doli- 

 ■chonyx orysivorus), Bddtimoxe Ociolef Icterus Baltimore). 



