290 BOAKD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



rather sweeping generalization!?, however, based on the re- 

 sults of the examinations of stomach contents, which do not 

 agree with recorded observations carefully made in eastern 

 Massachusetts. He says : " The insect food of crows is al- 

 most exclusively composed of terrestrial species, i. e., such 

 as are found on the surface of the ground or hide during 

 the daytime at the l)ase of })lants or under the various ob- 

 jects lying on the surface ; or such as live in the dung of 

 domestic animals, in decaying vegetable and animal matter 

 or underground." And again : "The almost complete ab- 

 sence of the numerous arboreal insects of all orders, ^. e., 

 such insects as are to be found on or which live on the 

 trunks, limbs or leaves of trees and shrubs, indicates that 

 the birds when sitting or resting on trees do not pick up 

 insects." 



To those who have observed crows feeding in summer in 

 orchards or forest trees for considerable periods on some of 

 the larger caterpillars these seem rather remarkable state- 

 ments. To such observers the almost complete absence of 

 such food from the stomachs examined would merely justify 

 the conclusion that most of the crows were shot while, or 

 soon after, feeding in lields, gardens, pastures, i)raines or 

 other open land. It seems most astonishing that the ex- 

 amination of so many stomachs should yield the remains 

 of so few arl)oreal insects. While all who have closely o1>- 

 served crows must agree that much of their feeding is done 

 on or near the ground, yet it must be admitted that in the 

 more wooded districts of Massachusetts, at least, in the late 

 spring and during a })art of the summer the crows feed 

 much in and among trees in which insect food is plentiful, 

 and that, although they may destroy some fruit in the 

 orchards, such as cherries and apples, the chief sustenance 

 they obtain in summer from the trees consists of insects. 



The past two seasons, 1894 and 1895, have been " canker- 

 worm years " in eastern Massachusetts, and the two species of 

 canker worms, Anisoptevyx vernata and Anii^opteryx povne- 

 taria, have been very abundant not only in the orchards but 

 also among the elms, both in the parks and woods. Those 

 who have watched the smaller warblers and sparrows feeding 

 on these caterpillars are aware that many of them escape the 



