CONTENTS 







CHAPTER PAGE 



INTRODUCTION. THE RELATIONS OF BIRDS TO MAN .... 1 



I. THE METHODS OF STUDYING THE FOOD OF BIKDS ..... 9 



II. THE DEVELOPMENT OF ECONOMIC ORNITHOLOGY , 17 



III. THE VEGETABLE FOOD OF BIRDS 27 



IV. THE ANIMAL FOOD OF BIRDS 42 



V. THE AMOUNT OF FOOD CONSUMED BY BIRDS 59 



VI. BIRDS AS REGULATORS OF OUTBREAKS OF INJURIOUS ANIMALS 68 

 VII. THE RELATIONS OF BIRDS TO PREDACEOUS AND PARASITIC 



INSECTS 81 



VIII. THE THRUSHES AND THEIR ALLIES 86 



IX. THE NUTHATCHES, TITMICE, CREEPERS, AND WRENS .... 105 



X. THE WARBLERS AND THE VIREOS 112 



XI. THE SHRIKES, WAXWINGS, SWALLOWS, AND TANAGERS . . . 122 



XII. THE FINCHES AND SPARROWS 132 



XIII. THE ENGLISH SPARROW AND THE STARLING 144 



XIV. THE ORIOLES, BLACKBIRDS, CROWS, AND JAYS ...... 156 



XV. THE FLYCATCHERS, HUMMING-BIRDS, SWIFTS, AND NIGHTHAWKS 174 



XVI. THE WOODPECKERS, KINGFISHERS, AND CUCKOOS 181 



XVII. THE OWLS 195 



XVIII. THE HAWKS, EAGLES, KITES, AND VULTURES ... ... . 205 



XIX. THE PIGEONS. GROUSE, AND SHORE-BIRDS 219 



XX. THE WATER-BIRDS 239 



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