2 BIRDS IN THEIR RELATIONS TO MAN. 



near-by orchard for that purpose. The bluebirds feed more 

 freely upon low-living insects than even the robins do, eating 

 great numbers of cutworms and similar pests about the 

 borders of the garden, as well as searching for insects in the 



fruit and shade trees. Far- 

 ther afield this area next the 

 ground is supervised by 

 various other birds : in the 

 pastures and grass-lands 

 sparrows, meadow - larks, 

 bobolinks, blackbirds, and 

 quails are always searching 

 for caterpillars and other 

 insects; along the borders 

 of the forests chewinks and 

 brown thrashers scratch 

 beneath the shrubbery for 

 such insect fare as is there 

 available ; in the deeper 

 woods the ruffed grouse 

 is similarly engaged, while 



FEMALE RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD. 



along the margins of ponds 



and streams the sand-pipers, plovers, woodcock, and snipe 

 are always probing for hidden tidbits. 



Fortunately, trees are abundant in Durham : near the 

 houses and along the streets shade and ornamental trees 

 abound ; in the orchards apple-trees prevail ; along the water- 

 courses alders and other shrubby trees hold sway, while in 

 the forests oak and maple and beech and stately pines are 

 everywhere. All of these trees have their insect enemies : in 

 the trunk are borers of the bark, the sap-wood and the heart- 

 wood ; on the branches are gnawing and sucking insects ; on 

 the leaves are caterpillars and plant-lice and leaf-hoppers and 

 hosts of others. Set over against these destroyers are many 

 feathered enemies: the woodpeckers, assisted by the nut- 



