64 



BIRDS OF A MARYLAND FARM. 



pellets containing the seeds of poison ivy, poison sumac and other 

 sumacs, smilax, cedar, sour gum, and flowering dogwood. Some pel- 

 lets, also, were made up of the hulls of corn and oats. 



The distribution of fruiting plants illustrated by the crow is effected, 

 though usuallj^ in a slighter degree, by all other frugivorous birds. 

 Areas from which such plants and shrubs have been removed are in a 

 short time replanted by birds. ■ At Marshall Hall such plants thus 

 assisted are constantly striving to secure a foothold on the arable 

 land. This scattering of fruit seeds is illustrated by some observations 

 made March 27, 1901. Under a large black walnut tree, remote from 

 other woody vegetation and near the negro cabin, a two hours' search 

 brought to view 172 fruit seeds, including mulberry, cultivated cherry, 



RovigK- leccvect Cor* rveL- 



(CorTi,u.s aspapiJoUtx.) Ccotbrier 



[S-milouc rotu-noLyoUoc) 



Flowering DogwoocL 



IliP Smooth- Su-mjCLC 



[ Rhus gldbroc) 



Po ts o n. Sumac 



Poison Ivy- 



Sour GLuni, 



(jJyssot- a^ixottico, ) 



Red CecUxr 



(Juntperus virgin-iocnus) 



Fig. 23. — Some common seeds found in crow pellets. 



wild black cherry, wild grape, woodbine, pokeberry, cedar, sassafras, 

 blackberry, and sumac. Under a large cedar in the middle of lot 2 

 seeds of the following additional fruiting plants were collected: Elder, 

 hackberry, bittersweet, sour gum, smilax, blueberry, flowering dog- 

 wood, and poison iv3^ 



The most striking examples of trees planted by birds at Marshall 

 Hall are the ox-heart cherry trees that extend along the river front 

 for half a mile. Almost as notable, perhaps, are the tall cedar trees 

 which stand in long rows between adjacent fields (see PI. XII, fig. 1). 

 Scattered over the old pastures, also, little cedar trees, like fox brushes, 

 attest the work of the winged planters, but in the arable land the 

 rotation of crops kills all except such as may start along fence rows. 



