148 LIFE ON THE FARM. 



other useful birds away to such an extent as it has 

 been accused of. Most of its vegetable diet con- 

 sists of refuse or weed seed. Its value as an insect 

 destroyer during the summer months cannot be 

 questioned. 



During the summer of 1900, the writer watched 

 a male and female English sparrow carry food to 

 a nest of half-grown young. The food brought 

 consisted entirely of cabbage worms (caterpillars 

 of the cabbage butterfly), and the number amounted 

 to an average of about fifteen per hour. Now, 

 taking into consideration that the summer day is a 

 long day, and that all birds work early and late, 

 the large number fed to one nest of young during 

 their helpless period can easily be determined. 

 This, of course, takes no account of the number of 

 caterpillars eaten by the parents themselves to sup- 

 port them in their arduous labor. 



The house wren, besides being a cheerful little 

 creature about a house, is another very useful bird 

 at killing insects. Its food consists almost entirely' 

 of insects. Some claim that it eats absolutely noth- 

 ing else. It will build any place about dwellings 

 where it can find lodgment for its nest. If undis- 

 turbed by cats, dogs, or human beings, the house 

 wren will sit and sing within four or five feet of a 

 person without showing any signs of fear. 



It might be said here that cats are the worst 

 enemies of birds. They no doubt drive away many 

 valuable species that would otherwise be a source 



