88 EEPORT 4, UNITED STATES ENTOMOLOGICAL COMMISSION. 



cies, either in its larva, chrysalis, or moth state, but only those which 

 have been observed to do so will here be mentioned.^ 



All domestic birds, as turkeys, chickens, guinea fowl, and geese, are 

 fond of the worms, and may be employed with benefit. Turkeys are 

 the most eflicient, but they get demoralized when locusts or grasshop- 

 pers are abundant, by running after these, which they greatly prefer 

 to the worms. Prairie chickens and quails often do good work in de- 

 vouring the worms, while a Thrush (probably ffarporJiynchus rnfus L.), 

 the Riiin Crow or Cuckoo {Coccygus americanus Bon.), Bluebird {Sialia 

 sialis), Cardinal Grrosbeak {Cardinalis virginiamis Bon.), Mocking-bird 

 [Minms polyglottus L.), Blue jay (Cyamirus cristatus Sw.), Eed-wing 

 blackbird (AgelcBus pJioeniceiis Yieill.), Rice bird (Boliclionyx oryzivorus 

 L.), and Killdeer plover {JEgialitis vocifera), are more or less persistent 

 in feeding upon them. The domestic birds and some of the wild species 

 may be attracted to a field by scattering a little corn or other gTain on 

 the ground. The most effective help to man is rendered by the gre- 

 garious species such as the Eice birds and Blackbirds, and they have 

 protected and ^saved fields near their favorite resorts or resting-places. 

 The Rice birds occur in large swarms only in the vicinity of swamps; 

 the Blackbirds are more generally distributed, but unfortunately they 

 nearly all migrate northward in June from those localities which are 

 most exposed to the attacks of the worms, and they seldom return again 

 till after frost. It is quite amusing to watch how deftly they will ex- 

 tract the chrysalis from its leafy or silken covering. Mr. Hubbard, 

 while at Centerville, Fla., found that the worms had appeared in great 

 numbers in a bottom of a quarter-acre patch of cotton on the plantation 

 of a neighbor. On Saturday this was being rapidly eaten out, but on 

 the following Monday not a worm could be found, and the cotton was 

 left in statu quo. On Saturday and Sunday large flocks of Blackbirds 

 had been seen in the neighborhood, and these were presumed to have 

 devoured the caterpillars. 



We may also mention the following additional species as among those 

 which have been observed to destroy the worms : The Bee-martin or King* 

 bird (Tyrannus carolinensrs, Baird), the Indigo bird {Cyanosplza cyaneaj 

 Baird), the Konpareil (CyanospizaciriSy Linn.), the Orioles (Icterus), the 

 Barn swallow [Rirundo horreorunij Bart.), the Loggerhead or Southern 

 shrike {Collyrio liidovicianus, Baird), the Sparrows {Spizelld), the "Wild 

 turkey (Meleagris gallopavo var. gallopavo), the Quail (Ortyx virginianus 

 Bonap.), Partridge [Bonasa mnhellusYSLT, umhellus Stephens), the Prairie 

 chicken {Cupidonia cupido var. cupido Baird). Of nocturnal birds, sev- 

 eral, and among them the ^ight- hawks {GJiordeiles), are supposed to feed 

 on the moths, but the proof is necessarily difficult to obtain except by 

 shooting and examination of their stomachs, and I cannot find that this 

 has been done. 



The introduction of the English Sparrow has been recommended by 

 several writers. The experience so far had with it would indicate that 



