No. 4.] BIRDS AND CATERPILLARS. 327 



The Flycatchers (^Tyrannidce) . 

 The flycatchers eat very few hairy caterpillars, but destroy 

 a great many of the imagoes of the diurnal species, two king- 

 birds having been observed to kill about two hundred and 

 fiity male moths of the Porthetria dispar in less than three 

 hours, and many female moths as well. Many flying moths 

 are destroyed by the flycatchers. 



The Grows, Jays, etc. (^Oorvidce). 

 This family is represented by the blue jay and crow, both 

 species being among the most useful in the destruction of 

 medium-sized and full-grown hairy caterpillars. The obser- 

 vations on these birds made within the last three years prove 

 them to be more useful in this respect than was even sus- 

 pected. They are continually feeding where outbreaks of 

 hairy caterpillars occur, eating both the caterpillars and 

 pupte, and feeding them to their young. These birds, 

 because of their size and voracity, destroy enormous num- 

 bers of these larvse. It is a question whether the crows do 

 not destroy many more than the cuckoos, because of their 

 larger size and greater numbers. Crows destroy fully as 

 many pupse as larvse. 



The Orioles (^Icteridce) . 

 The Baltimore oriole and crow blackbird are exceedingly 

 useful. As the feeding habits of these birds have become 

 better known, their usefulness as feeders on hairy cater- 

 pillars has been recognized. They eat mainly the medium- 

 sized and larger larvse. 



The Finch and Sparrow Family (Fringillidce) . 

 The finch and sparrow family is represented in Massachu- 

 setts by many species, several of which do not appear in the 

 list of those attacking hairy caterpillars ; but probably most 

 sparrows eat such caterpillars to some extent. The chipping 

 sparrow, song sparrow, towhee and rose-breasted grosbeak 

 feed persistently upon them. Several observers have seen 

 the indigo bunting attacking them. The sparrows eat both 

 large and small caterpillars. 



