°' 19 i9 J Recent Literature. 307 



practice be planned chiefly with a view of best utilizing the services of 

 birds in destroying white grubs; a remarkable tribute to the effectiveness 

 of practical economic ornithology: 



" Birds are most persistent followers of the plough during their breeding 

 season or while migrating; gulls and terns from May 16th to June 22d, 

 and for a short time late in July; crows and blackbirds, including grackles, 

 from the time grubs appear in May until July 1st. 



" From the foregoing we reach the conclusion that to attain the best 

 possible results under conditions existing in Manitoba, ploughing should 

 be done between May 14th and July 1st, and at an average depth of five 

 inches. The idea is, of course, to turn up as many grubs, eggs, or pupae 

 as possible, a majority of which will, in all probability, be picked up by 

 birds. Many eggs will be destroyed by the plough alone, but it is advisable 

 to harrow as soon as possible after ploughing, as by this means numerous 

 egg cells will be broken, causing a large percentage of deaths among the 

 eggs and newly-hatched young, besides exposing them to attack by birds. 

 Exposed pupa? will also be destroyed by this method. 



" So far as the interests of farming is concerned, it will be observed that 

 the above recommendations do not in any way clash with the best cul- 

 tural methods. There is good reason for believing, too, that they will 

 prove of value in the destruction of wireworms. 



" With reference to the large part birds are expected to play in this 

 work, it may be claimed that birds are not always present in sufficient 

 numbers, and that their capacity is, after all, limited. Granting this to be 

 true in certain districts, we must remember that white grubs are only 

 found within comparatively close range of trees, and that their principal 

 habitats coincide with the haunts of Crows, the most persistent of all 

 plough followers. Thus, if there are no Crows present the farmer and 

 sportsman are probably largely to blame, and the question then resolves 

 itself into the economic one as to which does most harm, the Crows or the 

 white grubs. We do not think there can be much doubt on this point 

 in grub-infested localities. The writer has personally seen fully ninety per 

 cent of white grubs exposed picked up by Crows when he was himself 

 the ploughman. 



" Blackbirds are more dependent upon water than Crows, hence are not 

 so evenly distributed, but when present prove very efficient grub destroyers. 

 Cowbirds (Molothrus ater) are also extremely useful in this respect, and 

 probably largely compensate for their parasitic habits by this means." — ■ 

 W. L. M. 



The Ornithological Journals. 



Bird-Lore. XXI, No. 1. January-February, 1919. 

 When the North Wind Blows. By A. A. Allen. — Excellent photographs 

 of winter birds and account of the actions of the White-breasted Nuthatch. 



