CTTVOROUS BIKD8 225 



trary, it is probable that the number of these insect- 

 eaters is growing less each year. 



214. The Birds that Eat Insects. — Now, what birds 

 may be classed as insect-eaters? There are bird- that 

 fare almost exclusively on insects, eating practically 

 no vegetable food; there are others that live on both 

 insects and vegetable food; and there is still another 

 class that lives almost exclusively on vegetable food, 

 eating only a few insects. We can mention separately 

 only a few of the commoner varieties of birds — those 

 usually seen about the average farm: 



Under the class of insect-eaters vro may mention 

 swallows, of- which there are several varieties; the best 

 known being the barn-Swallow, tree-swallow, eave or 

 cliff-swallow, and the bank-swallow. Those birds build 

 about the dwellings <>f man, and may be seen during the 

 day circling about in search of insects. As these birds 

 lusively on insects, they are of much 

 value, and their presence should be encouraged in every 

 way possible. " It is said that cliff and barn-swallows 

 can be induced to build their nests in a particular 

 locality, otherwise suitable, by providing a quantity of 

 mud to be used ti mortar. Barn-swallows may also be 

 <n< ouraged by cutting a small hole in the gables of the 

 harm"* The purple martin also belongs to this family 

 of birds, and is very useful as an insect-destroyer. The 

 so-called chimney-swallow is not a swallow at all, but 

 ihonld be called a swift. It, too, feeds largely on insects. 

 In the afternoons of summer and fall, we often see. 



•U.S. Dept. Agr. Farmers' Bulletin No. 64, 

 15 



