300 FARM FRIENDS AND FARM FOES 



and grasshoppers constitute three fourths of the animal 

 food," writes Professor Beal, " the remainder being made 

 up of bugs, miscellaneous insects, and spiders. One 

 third of the vegetable food consists of cultivated fruits 

 or those which may be cultivated, such as strawberries, 

 raspberries, and blackberries ; but while we debit the bird 

 with the whole of this, it is probable and in the eastern 

 and well-wooded part of the country almost certain that 

 a large part was obtained from wild vines. The rest of 

 the vegetable matter is mostly wild fruit, such as cherries, 

 greenbrier, spice berries, black alder, sumac, and poison 

 ivy." About half of the food of the Catbird is of animal 

 and half of vegetable nature. Planting wild fruits in out- 

 of-the-way corners is recommended to keep these birds 

 away from the fruit garden. 



BLACKBIRDS AND CROWS 



Two kinds of Blackbirds are generally to be found in the 

 Northern states. The larger of these is the Crow Black- 

 bird, of which there are two forms the Bronzed Crackle and 

 the Purple Crackle, large and handsome birds, familiar to 

 country boys throughout their range. Their food consists 

 of insects, grains, and other vegetable matter, insects 

 forming about one third of the total. These birds are 

 frequently destructive to ripening wheat or other grain 

 crops, and no doubt often do as much harm as good. But 

 in general they should not be molested except when 

 causing damage. 



The Redwinged Blackbird is smaller than the Crackles, 

 although in regions favorable for its breeding it is likely to 

 be much more abundant. It builds its nest in low bushes 

 on the borders of swamps ; and in the West often appears 



