PLANTS USEFUL, TO ATTEACT BIRDS. 193 



(Melia azedarach), the Russian mulberry (Moms alba tatarica), 

 and the Russian oleaster (Elceagnus angustifolia). The china berry 

 is just as successful in the eastern part of this zone, namely, in the 

 Austroriparian faunal area; it retains its fruit through the winter 

 and is eagerly sought by robins, cedar birds, and catbirds. The 

 Russian oleaster and another species (Elceagnus umbellata] also do 

 well here and furnish an abundance of fruit relished by birds. 

 Elceagnus angusti folia and Melia are hardy at Washington, D. C., 

 also, which is in the Upper Austral zone. The fire thorn (Coto- 

 neaster pyracantha], a beautiful shrub with scarlet berries much 

 liked by birds, will grow almost anywhere in the eastern United 

 States, and the Parkman apple (Pyrus halliana), one of the hand- 

 somest flowering apples, is quite hardy, and is a valuable bird food, 

 with fruit persistent in winter. But foremost in attractiveness to 

 birds among cultivated fruit-bearing plants are mulberries. These 

 will grow almost anywhere in the United States, and their combined 

 early ripening and long fruiting season make them especially valu- 

 able. Varieties of mulberries suited to the various faunal areas 

 will be treated at greater length in the section devoted to plants use- 

 ful for protecting cultivated crops. 



FOOD PLANTS FOR SPARROWS. 



A hundred species of sparrows inhabit the United States, and in 

 the number of individuals they outrank any other family. Many of 

 them are characteristic winter birds, and as they are great destroy- 

 ers of weed seeds and are sprightly and cheery withal, it pays to 

 take considerable trouble to attract them. 



As just remarked, they love weed seeds and do great good by de- 

 stroying them; but as it is not desirable to cultivate weeds, the next 

 best thing is to plant harmless species of their favorite genera. 

 Fortunately many common ornamental garden plants which are 

 entirely dependent on cultivation fulfill all requirements and produce 

 in abundance seeds which are highly relished by sparrows. To these 

 may be added a few native species which are not bad weeds, and the 

 various millets, which are excelled by no other plants in attractive- 

 ness to seed-eating birds. The following are recommended for 

 sparrows and other birds liking small seeds : 



Love-lies-bleeding (Amaranthus candatus), princes feather (both Amaranthus 

 1n/]iochondriacus and Polygonum orientate}, yellow chamomile (Anthemis 

 linctoria), chamomile (Anthemis nobilis), Calandrinia mnbellata, bachelors 

 button (Centaurea cyanus), African millet (Eleusine coracana), California 

 poppy (Eschscholzia calif ornica), tarweed (Madia elegans), miners lettuce 

 (Montia perfoliata), millet (Panicum miliaceum), Japan barnyard millet 

 (Panicum crusgalli var.), German millet or Hungarian grass (Setaria italica), 

 and sunflower. Several of the species of sunflower will serve, the common sun- 

 flower (Hclianthus annuus) being one of the best, having named varieties 

 especially prized for the abundance and large size of the seed. No seeds are 

 more relished by graminivorous birds than the millets; in fact, they are so 

 much preferred that they have been used with good effect for drawing the 

 attention of birds from more valuable grain crops. 



