338 REPORT UNITED STATES ENTOMOLOGICAL COMMISSION. 



These reports, taken together, give a very correct idea of the value 

 of birds as locust destroyers, and of the kinds which are most efficient, 

 as will be seen hereafter by what Professor Aughey says, the plovers 

 perhaps do not receive as much credit as they are entitled to The 

 various species of blackbirds, especially the Yellow-headed blackbird 

 [Xanthoceplialus icterocephalus) appear to have been the most efficient 

 workers. The Prairie-hen or Pinnated grouse {Cupidonia cupido) and 

 quail {Ortijx virginianus) appear to stand next in order as locust destroy- 

 ers, and the plovers, especially the Killdeer plover [Mgialitis vocifera), 

 the Eing plover {JE. semipahnata), and Mountain plover (Eudromias mon- 

 tanus) next, so far as the wild birds are concerned. That domestic fowls 

 are very efficient aids in this work has been proven beyond controversy, 

 and where they have been kept in anything like the number approxi- 

 mating to that which is compatible with the farmer's occupation and. 

 interest, they perhaps stand next to the blackbirds in usefulness. It is 

 true as stated, by some of the correspondents that after a time they tire 

 and withdraw somewhat from the work of destroying locusts, but if, as 

 Professor Aughey suggests, they are fed for a time on grain they will 

 again return to it with renewed vigor. ' There can be no doubt that where 

 these are kept in reasonable numbers, with a little care and attention 

 they will keep the gardens and vegetable patches clear of locusts, except 

 in cases of sudden and heavy invasions of winged locusts. 



Hogs eat a large number, but are probably more useful in destroying 

 the eggs, of which they are quite fond and for which they soon learn to 

 search. Among the native mammals which destroy more or less of the 

 insects or eggs may be mentioned the skunk, the prairie squirrels, and 

 even the ground mice. Toads also destroy quite a number of the young 

 insects. 



As bearing more especially upon the question of the usefulness of 

 birds as locust destroyers, we here insert a paper by Prof. Samuel 

 Aughey, of Lincoln, Nebr., prepared for the Commission. Although 

 we might be disposed to slightly modify it in some respects, yet we 

 agree in the main with the writer in the views expressed, and prefer to 

 let him speak for himself, that the full force of the valuable and impor- 

 tant facts mentioned may be felt, and that his earnestness as a bird 

 defender may have its influence upon all who read this report. 



SOME FACTS AND CONSIDERATIONS CONCERNING THE BENEFICIAL WORK OF BIRDS. 



Even poultry has been found to be invaluable in destroying locusts and other inju- 

 rious insects. During the summer of 1877 many farmers over tha locutt-covered region 

 of the West vrere converted to the policy of protecting our birds by observing their 

 insectivorous habits. Chickens, turkeys, guinea-fowls, geese, and ducks all destroy 

 locusts, especially the three former. Not a few farmers saved a portion of their crops, 

 and especially their gardens, from the locusts, by raising an exceptional number of 

 chickens, and sometimes of turkeys and guinea-fowls, and turning them loose on the 

 infested grounds. A single old hen, with her brood of young chickens, will, for a 

 while, live almost entirely on young locusts if they can be obtained. When tired of 

 them and then fed on some other kind of food for a few days, they will return again 



