636 DOMESTIC ANIMALS, DAIRYING, ETC. 



ing fruit, it is not considered injurious, but on the contrary in most 

 parts of the country does far more good than harm. 



The Robin. The robin is found throughout the United States, 

 although the robin of the far West is slightly different from that of 

 the Mississippi Valley and farther East. The food habits of the 

 robin sometimes causes apprehension to the fruit grower, for it is 

 fond of cherries and other small fruits. A large part of the food of 

 this bird consists of animal matter, principally insects. Grass- 

 hoppers, caterpillars, snails and earthworms form a considerable part 

 of its diet. Without doubt the robin is a valuable friend of the agri- 

 culturists, although he sometimes makes annoying inroads on some 

 choice fruits. (Dep. Agr. F. B. 54.) 



Blackbirds. Blackbirds also, of which there are several species, 

 at times and in certain districts destroy grain. On the other hand, 

 blackbirds consume insects in a wholesale way, and so incline the 

 balance strongly in their favor. 



Orioles. Orioles eat insects to a much greater extent than vege- 

 table food and are noted for their fondness for caterpillars. That 

 the good done by orioles far outweighs the harm can not be doubted, 

 especially since it has been ascertained that in the cotton fields orioles 

 are persistent and successful enemies of the cotton boll weevil, and 

 eagerly search the bolls for them, thus invading the very heart of 

 the enemy's citadel. 



Bobolink. The bobolink, though in summer a deserved favor- 

 ite at the North and there chiefly insectivorous, in autumn is respon- 

 sible for damages to the southern rice patches that annually aggre- 

 gate many thousands of dollars. The bobolink is thus almost in a 

 class by itself, earning deserved protection in summer at the North 

 by reason of its beautiful song and its insect-eating habits, while in- 

 curring the severest penalties at the South in the fall for serious 

 depredations on the rice crop. No fair-minded critic can condemn 

 the southern planter who protects his own by means of powder and 

 shot. The extermination of the bobolink is not possible nor is it 

 desirable, at least from the standpoint of those who cherish the bird 

 in its northern home, but a material reduction of its numbers would 

 probably effect a cure and satisfy the rice planters by making the 

 bird practically harmless. 



Blue Jay. The blue jay is another of our pronounced vege- 

 tarians whose fare, taking the whole year round, is largely composed 

 of insects ; and were judgment to be pronounced merely as between 

 the good it does by destroying insects and the harm it inflicts by eat- 

 ing corn and fruit, the verdict would be in favor of the bird. A 

 fact, however, recently brought to light seems to indicate that the 

 blue jay is essaying a new role. As is well known, the brown-tail 

 moth was introduced in this country a few years ago, and in the New 

 England States has already inflicted serious injury. It will be for- 

 tunate for the country at large if the ravages of the insect can be 

 limited to the States already infested. Contrary to the habits of our 

 native moths the eggs of this foreign intruder hatch in the fall, and 

 the young safely winter in their nests in the trees, to issue in the 



