266 USEFUL BIRDS. 



The Yellow-billed Cuckoo is common in eastern Massa- 

 chusetts, although it is rather more local than the preced- 

 ing species ; but it is rare in the highlands of the northern 

 and western counties. Mrs. Mabel Osgood Wright states 

 that this bird " seemed to follow an epidemic of tent worms " 

 into Connecticut, and that it was abundant for two years in 

 orchards and gardens containing fruit trees. She asserts that 

 it did its work so thoroughly that orchards which were cov- 

 ered with caterpillar webs yielded a good crop later. She says 

 also that the Cuckoos destroy many more than they can eat, 

 by tearing the webs apart and squeezing the worms with 

 their beaks. This is corroborated by the statements of 

 gentlemen from Medford, who have told me that they have 

 often observed this habit of the Cuckoo as practised on cater- 

 pillars of the gipsy moth and the brown-tail moth. It is 

 said that these Cuckoos, which were formerly decreasing in 

 numbers around Boston, are now increasing. They are no 

 doubt attracted by the abundant caterpillars. This species 

 is apparently the greatest enemy to these pests. 



GROUSE, PARTRIDGES, ETC. 



This family of gallinaceous birds is represented in Mas- 

 sachusetts by four species. Of these, the Spruce Grouse 

 is merely an accidental visitor ; the Heath Hen is nearing 

 extermination ; and the Bob-white, now rare or wanting in 

 many parts of the State, is more a bird of the field and 

 garden than of the orchard or woodland. It is described on 

 p. 325. This leaves only one species, the Ruffed Grouse, 

 to be considered here, as the other species, introduced from 

 time to time from other parts of the country, soon die out 

 or are killed off by our arms-bearing population. This is 

 particularly unfortunate, for Massachusetts, with her rocky, 

 wooded hills, sandy plains, and fertile valleys, her stunted 

 shrubby growths on Cape Cod and Martha's Vineyard, and 

 her many fertile fields, is naturally a paradise for Grouse in 

 summer, and produces an abundant winter food supply for 

 these hardy birds. 



