184 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



Stal. As a rule, members of this genus are beneficial and should be 

 protected, since the}' are mostly predaceous in habit. Professor Bruner 

 states that Podisus spinosus Dallas and Perillus claudus Say prey upon the 

 tent caterpillar. 



Among the more efficient vertebrate enemies may be named the 

 American toad, though its feeding on this species is practically limited 

 to the relatively short period when the larvae are wandering in search of 

 proper places for pupation. Mr Kirkland has found the remains of 37 

 full grown caterpillars in the stomach of one toad and from 15 to 20 in 

 many others. The value of birds in keeping this and other pests under 

 control is strikingly shown in an experiment conducted by Mr E. H. For- 

 bush, ornithologist of the Massachusetts board of agriculture. In a 

 typical orchard in Medford, Mass., a little trouble was taken to attract 

 the native birds, the nests of the English or house sparrow being 

 destroyed. . The results were greatly in favor of protecting our indig- 

 enous forms. In neighboring orchards it was evident that canker 

 worms and tent caterpillars were very numerous, but in the orchard in 

 question, the trees were injured seriously in only one or two instances, 

 though no attempt was made to control the insects by spraying or other 

 artificial means. The following is a list of the birds observed feeding on . 

 the tent caterpillar in that Medford orchard : Crow, Corvus americanus 

 Aud. ; chickadee, Parus atricapilliis Linn.; oriole, Icturus galbula Linn.; 

 red-eyed vireo, Vireo olivaceus Linn. ; yellow-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus 

 americanus Linn. ; black-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus erythi'opthalmus Wils. ; 

 chipping sparrow, Spizella socialis Wils.; yellow warbler, Dendroica 

 aestiva Gmel. This list includes all the species observed feeding on 

 the tent caterpillar by earlier writers. 



Preventive measures and remedies. It will not do to rely 

 entirely on the good offices of native birds for keeping this or other in- 

 sect pests under control, though they are undoubtedly of great value and 

 richly repay any slight effort that may be made for the purpose of 

 attracting them to orchards. Winter birds are induced to remain in the 

 vicinity of orchards by hanging in the trees pieces of meat or partially 

 picked bones, and will spend much time in searching out and devouring 

 numerous insects or their eggs, relying on the meat only when 

 conditions are unfavorable for obtaining insect food. Migratory birds 

 may be induced to remain in larger numbers near orchards by providing 

 them with suitable nesting places and materials, and by protecting them 

 from cats and cruel boys. Thickets in the vicinity will afford shelter for 



