No. 4.] THE GYPSY MOTH. 393 



wood birds feed upon it ; when it appears in the orcliards, 

 orcliard birds will be found most useful. In the vicinity of 

 swamps or meadows about lakes or streams some of the birds 

 which frequent these localities are found feeding on it. 



Where the moths are unusually numerous, the limited 

 number of birds cannot keep pace with the moths' increase, 

 and therefore can destroy only a small proportion of them ; 

 but when the moths are reduced in number by man, the lairds 

 are of great assistance in the work of extermination. 



Lists of birds found feeding on the gypsy moth have been 

 given in my annual reports from year to year. The list 

 published in the last report is the most complete, and contains 

 the names of thirty-eight birds.* 



Beside the species contained in this list, the red-winged 

 black-bird (Ar/elaius jjhoeniceoiis, Linn.) and several species 

 of sparrows not identitied have been seen feeding on the 

 moth. Most of the birds named in the list feed upon the 

 caterpillars. This is rather surprising, and does not agree 

 with the generally accepted theory that birds do not eat 

 hairy caterpillars. Were our birds sufficiently protected, 

 they might become numerous enough to check materially 

 the increase of the moth. Unfortunately, however, the most 

 useful birds are so persecuted that they are few in numliers 

 and consequently of little assistance. In this country no 

 birds have been seen to eat the eggs of the moth, and careful 

 observations and experiments indicate that none of our native 

 birds will destroy them. This must remain a serious draw- 

 back to the usefulness of native birds, unless they learn that 

 the eggs are good for food. We also lack the larger species 

 of ground-frequenting birds, the unfledged young of which 

 feed largely on insect larvas. The prairie chicken, wild 

 turkey and passenger pigeon have long since been extermi- 

 nated from Massachusetts, and the larger wading birds are 

 not common in the worst infested region. Although there 

 are a few grouse and quail, they are so persecuted by gunners 

 that they are not numerous enough to be of much assistance 

 in destroying the caterpillars, even if they eat them at all. 

 Although the caterpillars are exposed to the attacks of their 

 bird enemies upon the trees, only a few birds, like the tow- 



» " The Gypsy Moth," Forbush and Fernald, pages 207-208. 



