INTRODUCTION xix 



son in determining the character of food-remains 

 found. 



After the examination of about eighty birds, the 

 only one actually sentenced to death is the Eng- 

 lish Sparrow. Of all the accused Hawks, only 

 three have been found guilty of the charges made 

 against them, the Goshawk, Cooper's, and the 

 Sharp-shinned, while the rest are numbered 

 among the best friends of the fruit-grower and 

 farmer. Of the Woodpeckers, the Sapsucker and 

 Red-head may be beneficial or injurious, according 

 to circumstances, as is the Crow Blackbird, but 

 the rest of the family are highly beneficial. The 

 Crow probably does more good than harm in 

 thickly settled parts of the country. 



To most of the remaining birds tried, the evi- 

 dence is decidedly creditable. The Cherry Bird 

 or Cedar-bird is acquitted as doing more good 

 than harm ; and it is proved that agriculturists 

 owe especial protection and friendship to the 

 Robin, Bluebird, Phoebe, Kingbird, Catbird, 

 Swallow, Brown Thrasher, Rose-breasted Gros- 

 beak, House Wren, Vireos, Cuckoos, Orioles, Shore 

 Lark, Loggerhead Shrike, Wood Thrush, Red- 

 wing, and Meadowlark. 



So far as it has gone, the examination of the 

 stomach contents of birds has proved that, ex- 

 cept in rare cases where individuals attack culti- 

 vated fruits and grains, our native birds preserve 

 the balance of nature by destroying weeds that 



