THE YELLOW HAMMER 403 



The Golden Plover was formerly abundant in the United States, 

 but it is now a rare bird. It is occasionally seen in some of the 

 northern states during the migrations (Fig. 395). At such times 

 its food consists chiefly of grasshoppers and other insects. It is 

 included here as representing a group useful to the agriculturist. 

 Another example is the field or upland plover, which is also a 

 vanishing bird. 



The Barn Swallow (Fig. 396), which captures, while on the 

 wing, moths, flies, beetles, and grasshoppers, is a charming addi- 

 tion to any farm scene. House bed-bugs, contrary to a very com- 

 mon belief, are not found in swallows' nests. 



The Purple Martin is an excellent addition to any farm. It 

 should be provided with a martin house and its presence encour- 



FIG. 395. Golden plover. (After Fuertes.) 



aged. This bird wages relentless war upon hawks and crows, and 

 constitutes, therefore, a guard for poultry and small birds. 



The Song Sparrow, so dear to us all, deserves a prominent 

 place on our list. It is not only friendly and attractive because 

 of its song, and from the fact that it is one of the earliest bird 

 arrivals from the South, but it consumes a large amount of weed 

 seeds and many insects. 



The Yellow Hammer, Flicker, or Golden-winged Woodpecker 

 (Fig. 397), while a useful bird, is not as useful as many other 

 woodpeckers. It obtains a share of its food from the ground. 

 That is, it is very fond of p.nts and is quite likely to be discovered 

 dining on them upon the lawn. It eats wood-boring grubs to 

 some extent, but is not as industrious in that direction as many 



