No. 4.] BIEDS AS PROTECTORS OF ORCHARDS. 353 



cocoon which contains a minute green larva which evidently hiber- 

 nates as such, probably pupating in the spring. The larva un- 

 doubtedly feeds on the leaves of the apple-tree, as these cocoons 

 were taken from the small twigs at the extreme end of a large 

 branch. Some of these cocoons are empty and have a minute 

 hole at one end, which probably served for the egress of some 

 small parasite. These cocoons are eaten by the chickadee, and 

 have been found in the gizzards of the birds. 



The case-bearers and the tineids or leaf miners are in- 

 jurious to the foliage of the apple-trees. 



It was noticed by Mr. Bailey, who watched the birds 

 closely for several days, that they were eating quantities of 

 both of these insects. It would have been impossible for 

 any one to determine the species of the leaf miners as 

 found in the birds' stomachs, for little remained but small 

 fragments of the shell of the creatures. Mr. Bailey noticed 

 that the birds were taking objects from the twigs, some of 

 which they ate ; others they rejected and dropped upon the 

 snow. Some of those dropped he picked up and examined, 

 finding them to be parasitized. The birds undoubtedly ate 

 only those which were alive. 



It was evident from a careful examination of the eggs 

 found in the stomachs of the chickadees either that they 

 were broken by the bill in such a way that the contents 

 Mere exposed to the action of the gastric juice or that the 

 gastric fluid destroyed a portion of the shell. Occasionally 

 a few eggs which appeared to be whole were fouifd in the 

 intestines. 



A great quantity of animal food is required to sustain life 

 and provide animal heat sufficient to enable these little birds 

 to resist the inclemency of our severe winters. In proof of 

 this it maybe stated that during favorable weather the birds 

 visited the meat and ate largely of it three times each hour 

 with fair regularity. During each interval they were oc- 

 cupied in destroying eggs and other hibernating insect forms 

 which were always present and numerous in the stomachs 

 examined. This feeding appeared to be almost continu- 

 ous except in severe storms when the birds sought shelter 

 or when they were laboring under excitement caused by 



