190 



THE GENESEE FARMER. 



THE BAEN SWALLOW. 



The Spaeuow is a most industrious insect exter- 

 minator. A single pair have been known to carry 

 five liundred insects to tlieir nest of young within 

 an hour. Tliey are very domestic, frequenting the 

 gardoii, and sometimes venturing into the house 

 after insects. 



THE SPARROW. 



The King Bird or Great Flt-Oatciier feeds on 

 all the larger flies, canker worms, beetles — in fact 

 on all the insect tribe. His love for the honey bee 

 is well known, but it is believed he destroys only 



THE KING BIRD. 



the drones. lie has a habit of attacking and 

 driving away hawks, crows, and other birds of 



prey from the precincts of the farm-yard. "Whc 

 then, would grudge him the few bees he takes? 



THB AMERICAX ROBIN. 



TnE American Eobix. — This familiar bird, 

 well known for his early song and domestic habit: 

 makes his appearance among our earliest field bird: 

 His food consists of berries, worms, and caterpillar; 

 lie is particularly fond of the berries of the monr 

 tain ash and tlie fruit called poke-berries. Althoug 

 he may plunder a few cherries, yet he is more sei 

 viceable, in destroying grubs and insects, than te 

 times the value of the fruit he eats. 







THE SPOTTED WOODPECKER. 



The SroTTED "WooDrECKEB feeds on the insect 

 and larva3 found on trees. It appears to be ai 

 erroneous opinion that these birds injure trees 

 Their only object in pecking the wood and bark i 

 to get at the hidden insects that they know to bi 



