56 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



cedar, yet they are voracious feeders on such pests as the 

 canker worm. In this respect few birds can be more useful. 

 They have been thoughtlessly decimated by the shot gun in 

 many localities in this State. Although they possess no 

 power of song, they are among our most beautiful and 

 delicate birds. 



ViREOS (^Vireonidoe) . 

 This family of birds, famous for their vocal powers, should 

 also receive recognition from the farmer as caterpillar 

 hunters. At this occupation they almost equal the cuckoos. 

 The red-eye seems to stop singing only to hunt for or eat a 

 caterpillar. Their graceful movements, their powers of 

 song and their elegant pensile nests should make them wel- 

 come everywhere. 



Warblers (MmotiUidce) . 

 Of the great family of wood warblers we know only that 

 which is good. They migrate through this State in spring 

 and fall, leaving many of their number to summer here ; but 

 all or nearly all leave for the south in the fall, to appear 

 again only when the spring sun mounts high in its daily 

 course and the numerous hibernating insects awake to a new 

 year. These warblers' graceful forms, bright colors and 

 feeble lisping songs have made them favorites among orni- 

 thologists. Their valuable services in destroying insects 

 should insure the favor of all. Every spring and fall their 

 hordes pass through this Commonwealth unnoticed by most 

 people. There are few of the insects of the orchard, fruit 

 garden or wood lot on which these birds do not feed, and the 

 number of insects destroyed by them must be entirely beyond 

 man's comprehension. 



Wrens and Thrashers {Troglodytidm) . 

 The house wren, though perhaps locally common, is now 

 in most parts of the State a rare or uncommon bird. Un- 

 doubtedly the introduction of the English sparrow had much 

 to do with its disappearance from Worcester County. It has 

 been proved that it is possible in some cases to tempt the wrens 

 back to their former homes by putting up nesting boxes with 

 an auger hole seven-eighths of an inch in diameter as their only 



