46 II. Bericht über das perman. intern, ornithol. Comite. 



h — What birds, if any, have been observed to feed 

 upon the canker worm , army worm , tent Caterpillar, cut- 

 worm, cotton worm, cabbage worm, currant worm, Rocky 

 Mountain locust or other grasshoppers, periodical locust 

 {Cicada), Colorado potatoe beetle, chinch bug, Hessian fly, 

 or other noxious insects? 



i — The Bobolink (Ricebird of the southern states) and 

 Red-shouldered Blackbird congregate in vast flocks during 

 their migrations and commit extensive depredations in cer- 

 tain parts of the South. The Division will be glad to 

 receive detailed accounts of these depredations from persons 

 living in the affected districts. 



j — What birds are considered to be injurious to crops 

 and small fruits, and what kinds are regarded as beneficial? 

 On what facts are these opinions based? 



A" — Has any kind of bird been observed to feed upon 

 the honey-bee? If so, what species, and how extensive has 

 been the injury done? 



In the investigation of Economic Ornithology many 

 important secondary questions present themselves. Among 

 them, the following may be mentioned as bearing directly 

 upon the subject of inquiry: 



1. At what season and for how long a period is the 

 bird present? 



2. If a Summer resident, how many broods does it 

 rear each season , and how many young constitute an 

 average brood? 



3. Does it take up its abode near the habitations of 

 tnan, or does it inhabit districts remote from civilization? 



4. Does it inhabit marshes, uplands, cultivated fields, 

 or forests ? 



5. Where does it make its nest? 



6. What places does it frequent in search of food? 



7. Is it solitary or gregarious ? 



8. What eflfect does the settlement of a region have 

 upon its bird-life? 



9. What birds, if left to themselves, are likely to be- 

 -come most abundant as the country grows older? 



