No. 4.] BIRDS OX THE FARM. 149 



ful concealment of their nests. They are more likely to be 

 found, however, by their four-footed enemies. 



Robins, brown tlirashers, blackbirds, kingbirds, orioles 

 and jays seemed better able than the smaller birds to protect 

 themselves from the attacks of the common enemy. The 

 jays seldom were able to get a robin's egg if there was a 

 robin within sight. In such a case the alarm Avas given, and 

 the jay was immediatel}^ attacked by robins. Both robins 

 and ja3's bred all about, and fights between the two species 

 were of daily occurrence. Usually the robins were engaged 

 in driving the jays away from roliins' nests, but occasion- 

 ally the }ays seemed to be defending their own nests from 

 the robins. The robins vigorously protested whenever a 

 stealth}^ crow appeared. Nevertheless, many of the robins' 

 eggs were destroyed. Shells of robins' eggs were found 

 scattered about, showing where the beaks of the destroyers 

 had penetrated them. The present 3'ear, 1902, the crows 

 have become so emboldened b}' their immunity from harm 

 that they have frequented the farm more than ever, so that 

 now even the blue jays find it difficult to raise 3'oung. Shells 

 of jays' eggs were found strewn about the farm this year, 

 bearing the familiar beak marks. Young robins and jays 

 have been comparatively scarce. The crows are becoming 

 more bold, and the situation grows worse as time passes. 

 There is no time here to discuss the economic position of 

 the crow, or to enlarge upon the services of the ^ay as an 

 insect destroyer ; the Board has already received my reports 

 on these matters. It is enough to sa}' here that if we wish 

 to protect our smaller birds and increase their numbers, 

 both crow and jay must be kept within bounds. 



Our Massachusetts laws do not protect these birds ; in 

 this they are wise. The beauty and grace of the jay can- 

 not compensate us for the loss of manv other beautiful and 

 useful birds; and, while the crow has its place, and is at 

 times ver}^ valuable to the farmer, it can never fill the place 

 about the farmyard and orchard which is now so ^vell filled 

 by the robins, bluebirds, sparrows, warblers, vireos, wrens 

 and thrushes. Crows and jays, likfe all creatures of omniv- 

 orous habits, are sure to become pests wherever they become 



