186 YEARBOOK OF THE DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTURE. 



in ore beautiful and interesting than those which exhaust their energy 

 in one burst of bloom and are of monotonous appearance thereafter. 



The best shrubs and trees for attracting birds are those most re- 

 sorted to for food, and the extensive records of bird food in the 

 Biological Survey make their selection an easy task. The berries of 

 elders (Sambucus) are eaten by the largest number of species of 

 birds, namely, 67. Raspberries and blackberries (Rubus) are 

 known to be eaten by 60 species, mulberries (Morns) by 48, dog- 

 wood fruits (Cormis) by 47, those of the nonpoisonous sumachs 

 (Rhus) by 44, the various wild cherries (Prunus) by 39, and blue- 

 berries (Vaccinium) by 37. This completes the list of fruits known 

 to be chosen by more than 30 species of birds. Following these in 

 order are wild grapes (Vitis), eaten by 29 species; pokeberries 

 (Phytolacca) , by 26; Virginia creeper berries (Psedera), bayberries 

 (Myrica)) and juniper berries (Juniperus), by 25 species each; 

 service or June berries ( Amelanchier) , by 20; holly berries (Ilex), 

 by 19 ; strawberries (Fragaria) and fruits of viburnums, by 16 

 each; hackberries (Celtis) and huckleberries ( G-aylussacia) , by 15 

 each; haws (Cratcegus) , by 12; spicebush berries (Benzoin) and 

 rose hips (Rosa) , by 11 each ; and the fruits of sarsaparilla (Aralia) , 

 sour gum (Nyssa), gooseberries and currants (Ribes), and snow- 

 berry (Symphoricarpos) , each eaten by 10 species of birds. 



In addition to the plants recommended on the basis of proved 

 preference by birds, as indicated by stomach examination, there are 

 several other genera known to furnish much bird food, or which are 

 important in certain regions where none of the plants just men- 

 tioned are abundant. Separation of this list from the above by no 

 means indicates inferiority for the purpose of attracting birds, but 

 is done only to emphasize the different criteria for selecting them. 

 These plants are: Manzanita (Arctostaphylos) ; barberry (Ber- 

 beris) ; buffalo berry (Shepherdia) ; silverberry (Elwagnus) ; 

 buckthorn (Rhamnus) ; mountain ash (Pyrus) ; china berry 

 (Melia) ; the California Christmas berry (Heteromeles arbutifolia) 

 the pepper tree (ScMnus molle), the fruit of which is a splendid 

 bird food in southern California ; magnolia, the pulp-coated seeds 

 of which furnish one of the most nutritious and eagerly sought 

 foods of birds wintering in the Southeastern States; and nockaway 

 (Ehretia), lote bush (Zizyphus), and bluewood (Condalia), three 

 favorite genera of the Southwest, where most of the plants pre- 

 viously mentioned are wanting. 



"It must not be understood that birds avoid the poisonous sumachs in fact 

 they feed upon them more extensively than upon the innocuous ones. But 

 these plants, which are poisonous to so many people, can not, for obvious rea- 

 sons, be recommended for cultivation. Another favorite bird food which it is 

 undesirable to propagate is mistletoe. 



