

LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. 



U. iS. Department of Agriculture, 



Bureau or Biological Survey, 

 Washington, D. C, May 14, 1!U2. 

 Sib: I have the honor to submit herewith and to recommend for 

 publication as a Farmers' Bulletin a report on the food of some 

 well-known birds of the forest, farm, and garden, by F. E. L. Beal 

 and W. L. McAfee, assistants in the Biological Survey. These 

 birds to the number of 20 have been selected because of their 

 economic importance to the farmers and fruit growers of the re- 

 spective regions they inhabit. With the exception of three species 

 of sapsuckers, all the birds treated of are beneficial, and it is for the 

 best interest of the farmer that he should be able to recog-nize these 

 common birds at sight, so that he may protect the beneficial kinds 

 and, when necessary, destroy the others. To facilitate identification, 

 a number of illustrations are included. 

 Eespectfully, 



Henry AV. ITenshaw, 

 Chief Biological Siirrcij. 

 Hon. Jajies AA'ilsun, 



ticrretarij of Agriculture. 



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