2G4 



tent probablv of 1^00,000 (estimated) abundant oppor- 

 tunity was afforded to learn what species of birds and 

 other animals subsisted on the voracious larvae. 



While conducting these investigations, in different 

 parts of Pennsylvania, several hundred birds of 

 various species were shot and examined. These post- 

 mortem examinations, as well as observations in the 

 field, demonstrated conclusively that Crows and Crow 

 Blackbirds were, perhaps, the most useful of all birds 

 in devouring army worms. 



CROWS AND BLACKBIRDS. 



The viscera of twenty-three Crows, old and young, 

 which were captured in different counties of the State, 

 and in localities where army worms were abundant, 

 were in many instances, found to be gorged with the 

 remains of these larvae. Crows also ate large num- 

 bers of pupae. I noticed Crows or Blackbirds, espe- 

 cially the Common Crow Blackbird, to be quite numer- 

 ous in nearly all fields where the crawling hosts were 

 abundant, and these dark-colored and badly abused 

 birds, by their constant warfare on the worms, did 

 much to keep in check the damage to cereal and other 

 crops. Crows were generally to be observed singly or 

 in pairs, sometimes in parties, five or seven indi- 

 viduals, but the Blackbirds were often noticed in good 

 sized flocks. One flock of Blackbirds numbered fully 

 seventy-five individuals and they all seemed to be 

 intently engaged for a considerable time in the morn- 

 ing or evening, as well as at intervals in mid-day, 

 destroying the Army Worm. A Crow would eat a 

 handful of the worms at a single meal; the numbei- 

 whicli a single bird would devour in a day was im- 

 mense. 



