CHILDREN'S GARDENS 



their offspring on insects. The Crow Blackbird 

 feeds plump spiders, tiny young grasshopper 

 nymphs, and soft small cutworms for a while. 

 Beetles soon become part of the fare, and when 

 the Blackbirds are nearly or quite grown the 

 stomachs are strong enough to digest corn. Corn 

 is then given freely, and by the time they are 

 ready to leave the nest it forms about one-fourth 

 of their food. 



The nestlings of Bluebirds are fed upon 

 grasshoppers, and other insects, earthworms, 

 and larvae. The nestlings of Robins are fed 

 from five to six times an hour with* insect food 

 caterpillars, locusts, grasshoppers, crickets, 

 beetles, May-beetles, cutworms, spiders, snails, 

 and earthworms. 



The House Wren is exclusively insectivorous, 

 and is one of the most useful birds. 



The feeding of the young of English Spar- 

 rows is of value, and many injurious insects 

 are destroyed. The adults act as scavengers in 

 the city. 



The nestlings of the Baltimore Oriole are fed 

 upon canker-worms; the Orchard Orioles upon 

 May-flies, spiders, caterpillars, and grasshop- 

 pers. 



The food of adult Crows is two-thirds vegeta- 

 ble, a large part of which is corn. The nestlings 

 consume large quantities of cutworms, grass- 



200 



