BIRDS AND HORTICULTURE 



The following are those orders of birds with 

 which children are apt to come in contact, and 

 which are most closely related to insect life : 



Raptores — birds of prey — Vulture, Hawk, 

 Owl. 



Coccyges — Cuckoo, Kingfisher. 



Pici — Woodpecker. 



Machrochires — Goatsucker, Swift, Humming- 

 Bird. 



Passeres — Percher, Flycatcher, Bluebird, 

 Blue Jay, Oriole, Sparrow, Finch, Swallow, 

 Vireo, Warbler, Wren, Thrush. 



If insects destroyed by birds were allowed 

 to live they would have countless millions of 

 descendants. The food of birds is varied and 

 extensive, and often consists of articles most 

 accessible. Each species attacks certain insects, 

 and performs a service which can not be so well 

 accomplished by any other species. Swallows, 

 Swifts, Night-hawks, and Whippoorwills clear 

 the atmosphere of insects. Flycatchers, King- 

 birds, Pewees, and Phoebes capture their prey 

 on the wing. Woodpeckers, Chickadees, Nut- 

 hatches, and Creepers explore the bark of trees 

 for eggs, grubs, and ants. No form of attack is 

 as effective as the destruction of eggs. Warblers 

 and Vireos search diligently for the crawling 

 prey among the trees. Blackbirds frequent the 

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