BEST FRIENDS OF THE FARMER AND FRUIT-GROWER 257 
FAMILIES SCIENTIFIC NAMES EXAMPLES 
BLAcCKBIRDS........ Ic-ter't-dae...... Blackbird, Oriole, Meadowlark, 
Bobolink. 
Crows...... ..... Cor’vi-dae....... .Crow, Raven, Jay, Nutcracker. 
Hornep Larks.....A-lau'di-dae.... ... Horned Lark. 
FLYCATCHERS....... Ty-ran'ni-dae..... ere Fewee, Fhaehe), King: 
The majority of perchers are birds of plain feather, quite 
as if Nature had intended that these, the best friends of the 
farmer and fruit-grower, should be the last to be destroyed 
by the merciless Man-with-a-Gun. 
It will be a sad day for the American farmer when the 
last insect-eating bird of our country is brought fluttering 
and lifeless to the ground. When the armies of destroying 
insects begin to multiply unchecked, and send forth their 
millions and tens of millions, then will the husbandman 
realize the value of the allies he has lost, and vainly wish to 
exchange any number of grapes and cherries for the once- 
despised robin, thrush and blackbird. 
Quite apart from their cash value to the agriculturist, it 
is the song-birds that appeal most strongly to the ear and 
heart of man. Even the exquisite plumage of the resplendent 
trogon, most beautiful of all American birds, does not thrill 
the soul as does the song of the robin, the brown thrasher 
and the mockingbird. Next to sunshine and green verdure, 
the most cheering thing in Nature is the song of a bird. At 
this moment (early spring) a robin, in the big maple in front 
of my windows, is pouring forth a song that is at once restful 
and inspiring. It reminds me that we who live in the tem- 
perate zone are greatly favored by the presence in our bird- 
life of the sweetest singers in the world. Shall we, then, be 
