BIRD HELPERS IN THE GARDEN 189 



The Bluebird 

 This is another bird that may be induced to live in oiir garden, 

 by placing some nesting boxes there for its use. It has never 

 been accused of injuring the fruit of the garden, while 76% of its 

 food consists of insects, and the vegetable food of the other 24% 

 consists of berries of wild vines. It takes any insects that happen 

 to be present, but likes especially beetles, caterpillars and grass- 

 hoppers. The nestlings are fed upon the same insects and some 

 spiders. Because it is such a general insect feeder, the bluebird is 

 a very good tenant of the garden, taking whatever insects it finds 

 destroying our vegetables. 



The Robix 



This truly domestic bird is in our garden whether we invnte him 

 or not. He comes earl}' and stays late, doing v^arious things, some 

 of which we do not enjoy. Many people think that earthworms 

 form the chief article of diet of the old and young robins, but this is 

 a mistake. Investigations have revealed that caterpillars, grass- 

 hoppers, beetles and their lar\'ae — especially May beetle larvae, 

 are eaten in large numbers while spiders, snails and earthworms 

 form only a small part of their food. 



If one has a sense of htmior and understands bird language, one 

 may derive some consolation over the loss of cherries, and straw- 

 berries, due to the robins. The writer has often gone into her 

 garden, wrathful over these depredations, but as she approached 

 the cherr}'- tree or the strawberry bed, the robins in possession 

 scolded so vociferously and with such conviction that she was 

 trespassing upon their own special property, that she retreated 

 abashed and laughing. Their indignation, when the strawberry'- 

 bed was covered with mosquito netting was something to be 

 remembered. 



If we would only grow mtilberries along with ottr cherries, we 

 should then be able to look upon the robin as a friend to the garden, 

 always, for he prefers the mulberries to the cherries or strawberries. 

 In any case, the robin here in the East helps the garden far more 

 then he damages it. 



The Catbird and the Mockingbird 



These two birds are so similar in their habits that we may regard 

 their work for the benefit of the garden much the same. The chief 



