BIRDS REPORTED BY CORRESPONDENTS. 141 



erally those that have been kept in confinement. The farmer, therefore, who makes 

 provision for a large amount of poultry on his lands, accomplishes a double purpose : 

 His profits are to that extent increased, and a large number of insects that would 

 damage his crops are destroyed. 



These are the precise sentiments of Doctor Chisholm when he said : 

 A prudent economical planter will increase the brood of every species of domestic 

 poultry, particularly turkeys, for this has a tendency to diminish the brood of the 

 chenille in a very great degree, while profit arises from the augmentation of useful 

 stock. Turkeys are observed to have a remarkable appetite for the larvae of the cot- 

 ton-moth and devour prodigious quantities of them. 



And now let us turn from the consideration of domestic birds to that 

 of wild birds. It has long been noticed that the cotton near the edge 

 of the field where there were trees and bushes was not eaten by the 

 worms, and this we can safely ascribe to the good offices of the birds. 

 In many parts of the South the amount of good performed by these 

 little friends of the planters is not appreciated, and they are shot indis- 

 criminately by the ignorant freedmen and others. The subject as to 

 what particular species destroy the worms has been studied but little 

 in this investigation, and we are obliged to rely upon the random reports 

 of correspondents. From these we have gathered the following partial 

 list: 



1. The painted bunting or nonpareil (Cyanospiza ciris, Linn). This 

 bird was found nesting on cotton at Macon Station, Ga., and as, accord- 

 ing to the best authorities, its food is to a great extent insects, it may 

 safely be put down as a destroyer of the cotton-worm. 



2. The indigo bird (Cyanospiza cyanea, Baird). Observed by Mr. 

 Trelease to destroy the cotton worm. 



3. The mocking-bird (Mimus polyglottus, Linn). This bird, whose 

 food consists principally of insects, has been reported from all ovev the 

 South as being a great cotton-worm eater. 



4. The bluebird (Sialia sialis, Baird). The food of this bird also con- 

 sists principally of insects, and it has often been seen to destroy the 

 cotton -worm. 



5. The rice-bird, or bobolink, or reed loiTd.-(DolicJionyx oryzivorus, 

 Swaiuson), is reported by Professor Willet to feed uppn the cotton-worm. 



G. The "yellow oriole" (Icterus baltimore?)ba.s been seen by Mr. G. 

 W. Smith- Vaniz, of Canton, Miss., in numbers, devouring the cotton- 

 worm. 



7. The "yellow-jacket" (Chrysomitris tristisf Bonap). This is a pop- 

 ular name which is extremely indefinite and cannot be found among the 

 popular names adopted by modern ornithologists. It may refer to the 

 common yellow-bird or thistle bird or American goldfinch. 



8. The bee-martin or king-bird (Tyrznnus carolinensis, Baird). This 

 bird, which feeds almost exclusively on winged insects, is perhaps the 

 oftenest quoted as a cotton-worm moth destroyer of all birds. It is, 

 according to one correspondent, a common sight to see them darting 

 about a field towards dusk, catching the moths on the wing or search- 

 ing for them under the leaves. 



