BEST FRIENDS OF THE FARMER AND FRUIT-GROWER 257 



FAMILIES SCIENTIFIC NAMES EXAMPLES 



j ,. j \ Blackbird, Oriole, Meadowlark, 



BLACKBIKDS Ic-ter i-dae j Bobolink. 



CROWS Cor'vi-dae Crow, Raven, Jay, Nutcracker. 



HORNED LARKS A-lau'di-dae Horned Lark. 



^ rr , j i Flycatcher, Pewee, Phoebe, King- 



FLYCATCHERS Ty-ranm-dae < *( . , 



The majority of perchers are birds of plain feather, quite 

 as if Nature had intended that these, the best friends of the 

 farmer and fruit-grower, should be the last to be destroyed 

 by the merciless Man-with-a-Gun. 



It will be a sad day for the American farmer when the 

 last insect-eating bird of our country is brought fluttering 

 and lifeless to the ground. When the armies of destroying 

 insects begin to multiply unchecked, and send forth their 

 millions and tens of millions, then will the husbandman 

 realize the value of the allies he has lost, and vainly wish to 

 exchange any number of grapes and cherries for the once- 

 despised robin, thrush and blackbird. 



Quite apart from their cash value to the agriculturist, it 

 is the song-birds that appeal most strongly to the ear and 

 heart of man. Even the exquisite plumage of the resplendent 

 trogon, most beautiful of all American birds, does not thrill 

 the soul as does the song of the robin, the brown thrasher 

 and the mockingbird. Next to sunshine and green verdure, 

 the most cheering thing in Nature is the song of a bird. At 

 this moment (early spring) a robin, in the big maple in front 

 of my windows, is pouring forth a song that is at once restful 

 and inspiring. It reminds me that we who live in the tem- 

 perate zone are greatly favored by the presence in our bird- 

 life of the sweetest singers in the world. Shall we, then, be 



