CUT-WOKMS. 



23 



Hadena verbascoid.es (G-uen.). 

 H. cariosa (Guen.). 



H. sectilis (Guen.). 



H. vulgaris (Gr.-Bob.). 



Hadena flnitima (Guen.). 

 Hyppa xylinoides Guen. 

 Helotropha reniformis Grote. 

 Apamea nictitans (Linn.). 



Natueal Enemies. 



As would naturally be expected from their numbers, their size, 

 and their smooth bodies, the cut-worms have many natural enemies, 

 whose persistence in seeking for them and making them their prey, 

 greatly mitigates the injuries that their unchecked increase would 

 otherwise inflict upon us. Of these, only a few will be referred to 

 in this paper. 



The nocturnal habits of most of the species render them much 

 less liable to become the prey of our insectivorous birds than those 

 that feed by day without concealment, yet they are far from enjoy- 

 ing entire immunity. 



The Robin. — Foremost among the birds as a cut-worm destroyer, 

 the robin (Merula migratoria) claims position. Mr. F. H. King, in 

 his Economic Relations of Wisconsin Birds, forming chapter xi of 

 vol. 1 of the Wisconsin Geological Survey (1883), has written as 

 follows of it : 



" It's eminently terrestrial habits, its fondness for larvae of vari- 

 ous kinds, and its ability to obtain those which are hidden beneath 

 the turf, give it a usefulness in destroying cut-worms which no 

 other bird possesses in the same degree, and for this feature in its 

 economy alone, its greater abundance should be encouraged. 



" Early in the morning, and toward the close of the evening, the 

 Robin may often be seen searching after cut-worms in lawns, 

 pastures and meadows, and when thus engaged, it hops about gaz- 

 ing apparently more at distant objects than searching for something 

 near at hand ; then, suddenly, it commences tearing up the old 

 grass and turf with its bill ; and, in another instant, it stands 

 triumphant with its wriggling prize in its bill, for it rarely digs in 

 vain. I have seen a Robin capture in this manner five cut-worms 

 in less than ten minutes ; and five other birds within view were 

 doing the same work. * * * How the Robin discovers these 

 cut-worms is not easily explained. It is possible, however, that 

 the larvae, while gnawing at the bases and roots of the grass stems, 

 while secreting themselves after their night's raids, or while, toward 

 evening, they grow restless and hungry, the slight movements 

 which they produce among the grass are sufficient to betray their 



