142 REPORT UPON COTTON INSECTS. 



9. The barn-swallow (Eirundo horreorum, Barton). This bird also has 

 been observed to catch the moth on the wing. 



10. The night-hawk or bull-bat (Chordeiles Virginianus) has been 

 often seen to catch adult Aletia on the wing at dusk. 



11. Bed- wing blackbird (Agelaius phcenicus, Vieillot). These birds de- 

 stroy immense numbers of the cotton-worms. 



12. Cow blackbird (Molothoris pecoris, Swainson). 



13. Rain crow or yellow-billed cuckoo (Coccygus Americanus, Bonap.). 

 "The rain crow feeds voraciously on them," (W. A. Harris, Isabella, 

 Worth County, Georgia). All through Georgia and Alabama this bird 

 is first mentioned jn answer to the question, " What birds feed on the 

 cotton -worm?" 



14. Loggerhead or Southern shrike (Colluris ludovicianus, Baird). 



15. The field sparrow (Spizella fusilla). 



16. The chipping sparrow (Spizella socialis). 



17. The song sparrow (Melospiza melodia). 



18. The lesser sap-sucker (Picus pubescens, Linn.). 



19. The wild turkey (Helen gris gallopavo, var. gallopavo). Concerning 

 this bird Mr. Trelease says : " Wild turkeys frequent Mr. Melton's plan- 

 tation in search of the caterpillar, and the plantation is covered with 

 their tracks. They are seen here, and I believe they have been seen 

 catching the worms." Mr. P. D. Bowles says: "The wild turkey has 

 been known to feed upon them in the field near the swamps," and Mr. 

 J. K. Gilmore remarks, "The wild turkey is particularly fond of them." 



20. The quail (Ortyx Virginianus^ Bonap.) feeds upon the cotton- worm, 

 according to Professor Willet. 



21. Partridge, ruffed grouse or pheasant (Bonasa umbellus, var. umbel- 

 lus, Stephens). 



22. Prairie chicken, prairie hen, or pinnated grouse (Cupidonia cupido, 

 var. cupido, Baird). 



The great majority of our correspondents replied that "all birds" or 

 "all insectivorous birds" eat the worms, without specifying the kind, 

 and the list is made up of the commoner species which are incidentally 

 mentioned, and may therefore be accepted as containing the names of 

 those birds which perhaps do the most good. 



The good will with which the native sparrows destroy the cotton-worm 

 and the reported efficacy of the English sparrow in ridding the Northern 

 cities of the canker worm have led many Southern planters to believe 

 firmly in the feasibility and advisability of introducing this latter bird 

 upon the Southern plantations. Many letters like the following have 

 been received : 

 Prof. J. H. COMSTOCK: 



DEAR Sin : Several planters request me to see what can be done with the European 

 sparrow as an enemy of the cotton-worm ; I therefore write to see if you consider it 

 advisable to send me several pairs of the birds to be liberated on the plantation where 

 I now am, and provided with nesting, gourds, &c. Being a social bird and fond of 

 living in cities I do not know how the experiment would succeed, nor do I kr ow how 



