54 THE HOUSE SPARROW. 



tera. The larva of Gortyna zece, or the corn worm as it 

 is commonly designated, is but little utilized as food, 

 owing to the great difficulty experienced in its capture. 

 During the prevalence of the cabbage plague a few years 

 ago, vast numbers of Pieris rapes were destroyed. The 

 birds evidently did some good in the preservation of the 

 plants. Last year but few plants were infested, and the 

 result was a good crop of cabbage. Whether the spar- 

 rows will still continue to merit our praise, in this par- 

 ticular, remains to be seen. Many of our native birds 

 are as partial to this worm as the sparrow, and during 

 my boyhood days always kept them in check, save in 

 seasons when there was an unusual abundance of these 

 pests, and a remarkable falling oft' in the number of insect- 

 eating birds. Formerly, many caterpillars of the rusty- 

 vaporer moth (Orgyla leucostigma) were eaten, but lat- 

 terly there is little demand for such articles of diet in a 

 region where plenty of other and more agreeable food 

 abounds. During the past season (1877), scarcely a 

 caterpillar of this species was touched. I have observed 

 caterpillars in such places that they could not have 

 escaped detection by the sparrows, but there was appa- 

 rent a want of disposition to meddle with these irritating 

 creatures. The condition of our Philadelphia squares, 

 and the Common, and public parks of Boston, according 

 to the testimony of II. A. Purdie, Esq., during the 

 summer of 1877, abundantly testify to the truth of my 

 assertion. To the disgust of persons of delicate nerves 

 and sensitive natures, these insect-pests were creeping 

 everywhere. To be sure our numerous measuring worms, 

 many of whose technical names are given above, are still 

 devoured, but through careful watchfulness I am con- 

 vinced that the rage for these smooth-skinned loopers is 



