SONG BIRDS OF ORCHARD AND WOODLAND. 155 



CHAPTER V. 



SONG BIRDS OF ORCHARD AND WOODLAND. 



The common birds that live and feed in woodland or 

 orchard are usually of the greatest service there. Those few 

 that nest in orchard or woodland, but seek most of their food 

 elsewhere, wdiile occasionally of much service in protecting the 

 trees, are ordinarily of more value in the field or garden, and 

 will be considered later among the birds of those localities. 

 Those common species that may be found in Massachusetts 

 tliroughout the year, and therefore are known as residents, 

 are most useful to man ; but those that remain here only in 

 summer or winter have considerable economic value. Such 

 familiar birds wdll be briefly described and also figured in 

 this chapter and those following. Those species that merely 

 pass through the State in migration will receive but brief 

 mention, or none, except such as are known to be conspicu- 

 ously useful while here. The Shrikes, Hawks, Owls, Crows, 

 and Jays will be treated separately among the enemies of birds. 



WOODLAND THRUSHES. 



The Thrush family is considered the highest group among 

 birds, and is ranked accordingly, although the Crows, Jays, 

 and Titmice exhibit in certain ways a higher degree of 

 intelligence. 



The Thrushes of the genus Hijlocichla are mainly wood- 

 land birds, although some members of the family are com- 

 monly seen feeding in gardens and fields. 



Professor Forbes's studies of the food of the American 

 genera of this family in Illinois (including also the Catbird 

 and Brown Thrasher) show that sixty-one per cent, of their 

 food consists of insects, one per cent, of myriapods (com- 

 monly called thousand legs), and thirty-two per cent, of 

 fruit. Thirty parts of the food consist of injurious insects, 

 and only seven of beneficial species. His examinations were 



