The West American Scientist. 



Vol. II. September, 1886. No. 18. 



{Read before the Society of Natural History August 6, 18&6 ] 



NOTES ON BIRDS INJURIOUS TO FRUIT. 



The loss incurred by fruit-growers from the attack of birds 

 upon their orchards is fast becoming an important topic; and one 

 which must ultimately result in remedial measures, which should 

 be judiciously enforced. 



Every horticulturist ought to be versed in economic ornithology 

 and entomology, in order to engage in a successful contest against 

 the aggressors. An indiscriminate slaughter of birds and insects 

 is harmful and unwise, because the beneficial share the fate of the 

 injurious. 



Fortunately there are very few species of birds that need to be 

 checked in their voracity ; and these should not be annihilated, but 

 only reduced until their depredations cease to be felt. Every 

 orchardist can well afford to donate some fruit to these sylvan 

 songsters. Were they removed, how gloomy and silent would be 

 the many places, which now are rendered delightful and joyous by 

 the re-echoing strains of these many-tongued warblers. 



I have often been asked the question : Do birds that destroy 

 fruit feed upon insects ? I answer : They do, as I've proved by 

 observation and dissection. 



The following nine species are those which are most destruc- 

 tive and the only ones worthy of being termed pernicious: 



1. Curved-bill Thrush ( Harporhynchus redivivus). 



2. House Finch (Carpodacus frontalis). 



3. Brown Towhee (Pipilo fuscus crissalis). 



4. Black-headed Grosbeak (Zamelodia melanocephala). 



5. Hooded Oriole (Icterus cucullatus). 



6. Bullock's Oriole (Icterus bullocki). 



7. Quail (Lophortyx californica). 



8. Common Crow (Corvus frugivorus). 



9. California Jay (Aphelocoma californica). 



The Sickle-billed Thrasher is both frugivorous and insectiv- 

 orous, attacking figs and grapes; is destructive to the garden ,pull- 



