and of robbing other birds' nests. The- government reports 

 show that thirty per cent, of its food consists of insects injurious 

 to our interests. The stomach-contents show but shght 

 evidence that it eats the eggs or young of other birds. It does 

 take some cherries and berries in their season, but not in large 

 quantities. 



The charge that this bird like the Crow pulls up sprouting 

 grain to get the seed to eat is not true; but that it does eat 

 wheat and corn in season can not be denied. The same reports 

 from the Government prove that the grain eaten forms forty- 

 five per cent, of the diet of this bird, but they further hold that 

 half of this consists of the waste kernels which have fallen to the 

 ground. This reduces the damage done by it to small propor- 

 tions. As an offset, we must give the bird credit for the 

 destruction of many injurious insects during the breeding 

 season, for it raises its young entirely on insect food. Every 

 farmer knows that the Crackle follows tlje plow and explores 

 the upturned earth to feast on the worms and grubs which 

 destroy his crops. If the good accomplished by this bird is 

 set over against the damage done to agriculture by it, the bal- 

 ance will be in the bird's favor. When farmers' boys under- 

 stand this, they will cease to kill it and hang it in their fields for 

 a scarecrow. 



61 



