390 RELATIONS OF BIRDS TO AGRICULTURE 



of insects of ground species beetles, bugs, grasshoppers, cater- 

 pillars, and a few flies, wasps, and spiders. A number of the 

 stomachs were taken from birds killed when the ground was largely 

 covered with snow, but still contained a large percentage of insects, 

 Crickets and grasshoppers constitute twenty-nine per cent of the 

 entire year's food, and sixty-nine per cent of the food in August. 

 About one-third of the beetles were predaceous ground beetles ; 

 the others were all harmful species. In May caterpillars constitute 

 over twenty-eight per cent of the whole food, with a large number 

 of cut worms. Grain makes up fourteen per cent, and weed and 

 other seeds twelve per cent. 



The Baltimore Oriole. This beautiful bird is found in most 

 of the states east of the Rockies, and is, as a rule, a welcome 

 addition to our bird fauna, a flash of orange in the green of a 

 northern summer. However, while it is a favorite on account of 

 its beauty and somewhat pleasing song, its habits are not always 

 of the best from the standpoint of the gardener, and, like the 

 rose-breasted grosbeak, it is fond of peas, and frequently tries the 

 patience of those who are lovers of birds by its depredations in 

 this direction. Methods of protecting the crop are given on 

 page 409. As opposed to its injurious habits, it eats tent cater- 

 pillars and other hairy caterpillars, including those of the brown- 

 tail and gypsy moths, as well as canker worms, cucumber beetles, 

 and grasshoppers. The male is bright orange of various shades 

 and black; the female's colors are duller. Its pensile nest is 

 frequently seen on elm trees. 



Bullock's Oriole takes the place of the Baltimore Oriole on the 

 Pacific coast. 



The Orchard Oriole is not abundant enough to be of special 

 economic importance to agriculture. It ranges through the eastern 

 United States into the South, and is regarded as a very good singer. 

 The male is black, chestnut below, and the female olive. It is 

 smaller than the Baltimore oriole and with the same general 

 habits. The nest is not so strikingly pensile as is the case with 

 the Baltimore oriole. 



The Bobolink. This favorite of bird lovers is the subject of 

 many a song and poem. It is a common and welcome summer 

 resident in central and northern states. The male fills the fields 

 with drunken melody, while his more modestly colored mate is 

 sitting quietly on her nest, well hidden in grass or clover. So 

 familiar to all is this songster that with figure 385 no verbal 

 description is necessary. 



