CAEDINAl/S FOOD ITEMIZED. 



25 



only 1 cardinal does harm to 15 which do good. The presence of this 

 single harmful bird among so many beneficial ones no more justifies 

 us in classing the species as injurious than would a like proportion 

 of disabled men justify the condemnation of a whole regiment. 



On the contrary, since the cardinal, by its general food habits, 

 does at least 15 times more good ^han harm, it must be classed among 

 the very useful species. The following list of important pests the 

 bird has been shown to prey upon is in itself sufficient proof of the 

 cardinal's value. ^ The list includes the Rocky Mountain locust, 17- 

 year cicada, potato beetle, cotton worm, bollworm, cotton cutworm, 

 cotton-boll weevil, codling moth, rose-beetle, cucumber-beetle, fig- 

 eater, zebra caterpillar, plum scale, and other scale insects. A host 

 of minor insect pests are attacked and the seeds of many noxious 

 weeds are destroyed. The cardinal much more than pays its way, 

 and deserves and should receive strictest protection. The bird is 

 easily attracted by food in winter and by the provision of suitable 

 nesting sites in summer. Being thus responsive to human care, and 

 being so valuable economically, the cardinal's presence on the farm, 

 and even in the city garden, should be encouraged in every possible 

 way. With proper protection and encouragement it will become 

 more and more numerous and render husbandry a correspondingly 

 increased amount of useful service. 



LIST or SEEDS, FRUITS, AND INVERTEBRATES EATEN BY THE CARDINAL. 



Corn (Zea mays). 



Rice (Oryza sativa). 



Kafir corn (Sorghum vulgare durra). 



Oats (Avena sativa.) , 

 Wheat (Triticum. vulgare). 



WILD FRUITS. 



Red cedar {Juniperus virginiana). 

 Solomon's seal (Pologonatum hi- 



florvm). 

 Bristly greenbrier (Smilax hona-nox). 

 Hickory (Hicoria sp.). 

 Oak (Quercus sp.). 

 Southern hackberry (Celtis missisnip- 



piensis ) . 

 Hackberry (Oeltis occidentalis). 

 Mulberry (Morus sp.). 

 Pokeberry (Phytolacca drcandra). 

 Tulip tree (Liriodendron tuUpifera). 

 Spicebush (Lindera henzoin). 

 Blackberry (Rubus sp.). 

 Rose (Rosa sp.). 



Jnneberry (Amelanchicr canadensis). 

 Red haw (Cratcegus sp.). 

 Cherry (Prvnus sp.). 



Skunk bush (Rhus triloiata). 

 Poison ivy (Rhus radicans). 

 Holly (Ilex opaca). 

 Inkberry (Ilex glabra). 

 Maple (Acer sp.). 

 Summer grape (Vitis aestivalis). 

 Frost grape (Vitis cordifolia). 

 Bullace grape (Vitis rotundifoUa) . 

 Maypop (Passiflora incarnata). 

 Prickly pear (Opuntia opuntia). 

 Rough-leaved cornel (Gornus asperi- 



folia ) . 

 Flowering dogwood (Gorniis florida). 

 Blueberry (Vaccinium virgatum). 

 Knockaway tree . (Ehretia elliptica). 

 Nightshade (Solatium sp.). 

 Elder (Sambucus sp.). ' 

 Arrowwood (Viburnum sp.). 



