ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE 



147 



ground. The vultures 

 and buzzards of the 

 South and West eat 

 dead animals. The 

 gulls of the sea and 

 lakes destroy refuse 

 thrown upon the sur- 

 face of the water. The 

 eagle is also a scavenger 

 as it eats dead fish that 

 float on the surface of 

 the water, or small dead 

 animals thrown out in 

 the open on the land. 

 Crows also eat dead 

 fish. 



There is also a group of birds that lives largely on seed, 

 and such birds destroy vast amounts of weed seeds. 

 Among the seed eaters are the quail, grouse, pheasant, 

 goldfinch, sparrows, bobolink, and meadow lark. A 



Figure 154. — Hairy Woodpecker 

 Eating Suet. 



Figure 155. — Male and Female Cowbirds. 



