INSECTS AFFECTING I'AKK AND WOODLAND TREES 



31 



Finch and sparrow family 



The tinch and sparrow family is represented in Massachusetts by many 

 species, several of which do not appear in the list of those attackint;; hairy 

 caterpillars, but probably most sparrows eat such caterpillars to some extent. 

 The chipping sparrow, song sparrow, towhee and rose-breasted grosbeak 

 habitually feed on them. Several observers have seen the indigo bunting 

 attacking them. The sparrows eat both large and small caterpillars. 



TA.1MAOR11JA.B 



Tanagcrs 



The tanagers are potent enemies of hairy caterpillars wherever they 

 appear in numbers in the woods, feeding quite constantly on them. Our 

 later observations indicate that no bird is more useful in woodlands. 



VIREOISIIDAJS 



I ircos 



The vireos or warbling flycatchers are persistent caterpillar hunters and 

 destroy many of these creatures. They do not feed so readily on the full 

 grown caterpillars as on the smaller, but none are safe from their attacks. 



MIMIOXILTIDAE 



Warblers 



It was not till 1899 that the value of the warblers as caterpillar eaters 

 was fully established. As they are small birds and feed mainly on smaller 

 larvae, it is very difficult to determine by observation exactly what they 

 are feeding on. 



A special effort was made during 1899 to secure accurate data in regard 

 to the destruction of the smaller hairy caterpillars by warblers. The result 

 has demonstrated that warblers are certainly among the most useful birds 

 in this respect, specially during the early part of the season, when most 

 larvae are small. They appear so fond of these larvae that they will even 

 climb about on the trunks of the trees to get them. 



iviiiviiNAE (subfamil)') 



Mac kino- (h rushes 



Represented by the catbiril and brown thrasher. They ari' certainly 

 among the most useful birds. The catbird eats hairy caterpillars greedily, 

 destroying even those covered with spines, like the Euvanessa anti- 

 op a, and feeds many caterpillars to its young. It eats full grown caterpil- 

 lars about as readily a§ cuckoos, taking mainly those that have, perhaps, 

 escaped more arboreal birds by remaining in the shrubbery near the ground. 



