birds during a number of years. Much time has been spent in the 

 field. With the generous help of others many facts concerning the 

 food and food-habits of birds have been gathered together. Many 

 papers and books have been read in order that the very latest and most 

 dependable knowledge concerning all our birds might be gathered and 

 placed at the disposal of our readers. Extended studies have been 

 made in the relationship of birds to our wild and cultivated fruits. 



Acknowledgments. 



I wish to make grateful acknowledgment to those who have helped 

 me- in the work that is set forth in these pages. To Hon. Howard E. 

 Williams, State Commissioner of Agriculture, I am especially thankful 

 for making possible the publication of this bulletin ; to Orr R. King, 

 who has assisted in many ways in the field and office work, and to 

 Charles Handley and Maurice Brooks, who have contributed many 

 useful notes, I am under great obligation. Forbush's "Useful Birds 

 and Their Protection," Hornaday's "Wild Life Conservation in 

 Theory and Practice," Weed and Dearborn's "Birds in Their Relation 

 to Man," and many bulletins published by the Biological Survey of the 

 U. S. Department of Agriculture have been consulted freely. These 

 have been of inestimable value in the gathering of the facts presented 

 here. To the writers of these books and papers, who have made 

 economic ornithology a life-long study, all should be most grateful. 



The End Sought. 



I most earnestly hope that this bulletin may fill the place for which 

 it is intended. There is need for a simple and readable work of refer- 

 ence on the food of our birds, such a work as all may be able to under- 

 stand and to use. As this publication goes forth to the school children, 

 farmers and to all who are interested in studies of this kind, it may 

 fill, in a measure this need. This, at least, is the purpose I have had in 

 mind in its preparation. 



For the privilege of using the colored plates to be found in this 

 bulletin I am under obligation to the National Association of Audubon 

 Societies. Cuts Nos. ?, 8, 9, 12, 22 and 23 are used by courtesy of the 

 Massachusetts State Board of Agriculture. 



EARLE A. BROOKS. 



Weston, West Virginia 

 March 1, 1916. 



