REPORT OF THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST I907 I9 



millet seed, sunflower seeds, either in the head or detached, 

 and advises hanging up in the orchard pieces of carrion, suet 

 or other animal food for the benefit of jays and crows. These 

 latter birds resort to such supplies when unable to obtain food 

 in nature and there is much less danger of their molesting the 

 smaller birds or devouring the winter berries upon which the 

 smaller forms depend so largely for sustenance. 



Provision should also be made for summer birds if we would 

 have these delightful and beneficial companions upon our prem- 

 ises. Mr Forbush, in order to accomplish this end, recommends 

 the feeding of the early appearing birds in April with a little 

 cracked corn, oats, wheat, barley or millet seed and providing 

 them with suitable bathing places. The latter should be where 

 there is little danger from attacks by cats or owds. The water 

 should range in depth from ^ inch to 2 inches and must be 

 fresh. Nesting places for swallows can easily be provided by 

 making an entrance at least a foot wide in the gable ends of 

 barns not otherwise provided with openings. There should 

 be some provision inside for nesting places similar to the rafters 

 in the old-fashioned structures. Chimney swifts can be induced 

 to remain in the neighborhood by attaching to the barn a box of 

 boards about the size and shape of the old-fashioned chimneys. 

 Mr Forbush states that it is not necessary that this structure be 

 upon the top of the building, though it should be out of the 

 reach of cats. Appropriate nesting places should be provided 

 or made accessible for the other small birds. 



The above measures, though perhaps trivial in themselves 

 if only one or more are adopted, are capable of exercising con- 

 siderable influence upon our bird population, and if generally 

 adopted throughout a given section of the country, should be 

 productive of great practical benefit, since the increased num- 

 ber of birds would be a most important check upon destructive 

 insects. 



Bibliography 



1793 Fabricius, J. H. Syst. Ent. 3:429- (Original description) 



T842 Melsheimer, F. E, Harris' Ent. Correspondence, p. 116-17. 

 (Observations on life history, as Dryocampa) 



1862 Harris, T. W. Ins. Inj. Veg. Ed. 3, p. 408. (Adult described, 

 as Dryocampa) 



1864 Lintner, J. A. Ent. Soc. Phila. Proc. 3:426-27. (Larva de- 

 scribed, as Dryocampa) 



