CHILDREN'S GARDENS 



service to the gardener by destroying many in- 

 sects that are not attacked by other birds. Their 

 food consists of hairy caterpillars, tent-cater- 

 pillars, fall web-worms, tussock moths, and hosts 

 of others, the worst enemies of plants. Nearly 

 one-half of their food consists of caterpillars of 

 various and most destructive species. They are 

 shy birds, but if unmolested will frequent shade- 

 trees in towns and cities. They are frequently 

 known as " rain crows." 



The Baltimore Oriole is one of our most 

 attractive and beneficial birds. He seeks his 

 food in the tree-tops. Much of his summer food 

 consists of hairy caterpillars, noxious beetles, 

 plant and bark lice. 



Warblers flit from place to place among the 

 trees in search of caterpillars and insects harm- 

 ful to fruit and forest- trees. Multitudes of war- 

 blers of several varieties go through the orchards 

 examining the rosettes of apple-leaves and blos- 

 soms for plant-lice. 



The habits of the Vireos are similar to those 

 of the warblers. 



The Black- Capped Chickadee is small and un- 

 obtrusive in habits, but valuable in orchard and 

 forest. All its food habits are beneficial, the 

 food consisting of noxious insects, and especially 

 of insect eggs, eggs of plant-lice, and such pests 

 as common tent-caterpillars, forest tent-cater- 



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