54 BOARD OF AGEICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



The meadow lark is one of the most useful birds of the 

 fields. Grasshoppers and other grass-eating insects, May 

 beetles, caterpillars and other leaf-eating insects constitute a 

 large part of its bill of fare, and it is not known here at 

 least to have any really harmful habits. This is another bird 

 which has been greatly reduced in numbers in this State, 

 partly by gunners and partly, perhaps (as in the case of the 

 bobolink) , by early mowing in the fields and meadows. 



Sparrows ( Fr ingillidm ) . 

 And what shall we say of the great si)arrow family, well 

 represented here by numerous species ? These birds, though 

 nominally seed eaters, are second only to some of our most 

 truly insectivorous birds in their value to man. Not only do 

 they and their young destroy vast numbers of insects in the 

 spring and summer, but they also eat innumerable weed seeds 

 in the other months they remain with us. Very few of them 

 can be said to be harmful in any respect. The rose-breasted 

 grosbeak is one of the few birds that eat the Colorado potato 

 beetle. Among the most useful sparrows are the chipping 

 sparrow, so common about the farm-yard, and the indigo 

 bird, the male of which is so conspicuous for his bright blue 

 plumage. These birds eat many of the worst pests of the 

 garden. The indigo bird is particularly useful in the corn- 

 field. The junco and tree sparrow are useful winter species. 



Tanagers {TanagiHdoi) . 

 The scarlet tanager, which is the only member of the 

 family at all common here, is largely a bird of the woods, 

 though frequently seen in the orchard. It is pre-eminently 

 a tree bird, and feeds upon many insects, which in their turn 

 feed on the leaves or twigs of trees and shrubbery. Its 

 characteristic song and beautiful plumage of black and scarlet 

 make it a general favorite. It is especially the guardian and 

 protector of the oaks, living mainly among them and feeding 

 on their insect enemies. Large moths, like the Luna and 

 polyphemus, are captured by the tanager, which shears off 

 their wings and legs with its beak and then devours them. 

 This bird also catches and beats to death the hairy cater- 

 pillars, and either swallows them entire or tears them to 



