DOES IT PAY THE FARMER TO PROTECT BIRDS? 171 



BLACKBIRDS. Blackbirds also, of which there are several species, 

 at times and in certain districts destroy grain. On the other hand, 

 blackbirds consume insects in a wholesale way, and so incline the 

 balance strongly in their favor. 



ORIOLES. Orioles eat insects to a much greater extent than vege- 

 table food and are noted for their fondness for caterpillars. That 

 the good done by orioles far outweighs the harm can not be doubted, 

 especially since it has been ascertained that in the cotton fields orioles 

 are persistent and successful enemies of the cotton boll weevil, and 

 eagerly search the bolls for them, thus invading the very heart of 

 the enemy's citadel. 



BOBOLINK. The bobolink, though in summer a deserved favorite at 

 the North and there chiefly insectivorous, in autumn is responsible for 

 damages to the southern rice patches that annually aggregate many 

 thousands of dollars. The bobolink is thus almost in a class by itself, 

 earning deserved protection in summer at the North by reason of its 

 beautiful song and its insect-eating habits, while incurring the sever- 

 est penalties at the South in the fall for serious depredations on the 

 rice crop. No fair-minded critic can condemn the southern planter 

 who protects his own by means of powder and shot. The extermina- 

 tion of the bobolink is not possible nor is it desirable, at least from the 

 standpoint of those who cherish the bird in its northern home, but a 

 material reduction of its numbers would probably effect a cure and 

 satisfy the rice planters by making the bird practically harmless. 



BLUE JAY. The blue jay is another of our pronounced vegetarians 

 whose fare, taking the whole year round, is largely composed of in- 

 sects; and were judgment to be pronounced merely as between the 

 good it does by destroying insects and the harm it inflicts by eating 

 corn and fruit, the verdict would be in favor of the bird. A fact, how- 

 ever, recently brought to light seems to indicate that the blue jay is 

 essaying a new role. As is well known, the brown-tail moth was intro- 

 duced into this country a few years ago, and in the New England 

 States has already inflicted serious injury. It will be fortunate for 

 the country at large if the ravages of the insect can be limited to the 

 States already infested. Contrary to the habits of our native moths 

 the eggs of this foreign intruder hatch in the fall, and the young 

 safely winter in their nests in the trees, to issue in the spring and 

 begin their devastations on the opening foliage. Recently it has 

 been learned that hundreds and thousands of these nests are torn, 

 open in winter and the young eaten, and the blue jay has actually 

 been seen doing this. The blue jay will earn the title of bene- 

 factor indeed should he be able to contribute materially toward a 

 reduction of this pest, which not only threatens destruction alike to 

 village shade trees and country forest, but seriously afflicts humanity 



