orous bird. By carefully estimating the birds in several areas, 1 find that, in Massa- 

 chusetts, there are not less than five insect-eating birds per acre. Thus this state 

 with its 8000 square miles has a useful bird population of not less than 25,600,000, 

 which, for each days fare, requires the enormous total of 2,560,000,000 insects. That 

 such figures can be expressed in terms better understood, it has been computed that 

 about 120,000 average insects fill a bushel measure. This means that the daily con- 

 sumption, of chiefly obnoxious insects, in Massachusetts is 21,000 bushels. This esti- 

 mate is good for about five months in the year, May to September, inclusive; during 

 the remainder of the year, the insects, eggs and larvae destroyed by our Winter, late 

 Fall and early Spring migrants will be equivalent to nearly half this quantity. 



It is the duty, and should be the pleasure, of every citizen to do all in his or her 

 power to protect these valuable creatures, and to encourage them to remain about our 

 homes. The author believes that the best means of protection is the disseminating 

 of knowledge concerning them, and the creating of an interest in their habits and 

 modes of life. With that object in view, this little book is prepared. May it serve 

 its purpose and help those already interested in the subject, and may it be the 

 medium for starting many others on the road to knowledge of our wild, feathered 

 friends. Chester A. Reed. 



Worcester, Mass., 



October 1st, 1905. 



