266 USEFUL BIRDS. 
The Yellow-billed Cuckoo is common in eastern Massa- 
chusetts, although it is rather more local than the preced- 
ing species ; but it is rare in the highlands of the northern 
and western counties. Mrs. Mabel Osgood Wright states 
that this bird “seemed to follow an epidemic of tent worms” 
into Connecticut, and that it was abundant for two years in 
orchards and gardens containing fruit trees. She asserts that 
it did its work so thoroughly that orchards which were cov- 
ered with caterpillar webs yielded a good crop later. She says 
also that the Cuckoos destroy many more than they can eat, 
by tearing the webs apart and squeezing the worms with 
their beaks. This is corroborated by the statements of 
gentlemen from Medford, who have told me that they have 
often observed this habit of the Cuckoo as practised on cater- 
pillars of the gipsy moth and the brown-tail moth. It is 
said that these Cuckoos, which were formerly decreasing in 
numbers around Boston, are now increasing. They are no 
doubt attracted by the,abundant caterpillars. This species 
is apparently the greatest enemy to these pests. 
GROUSE, PARTRIDGES, ETC. 
This family of gallinaceous birds is represented in Mas- 
sachusetts by four species. Of these, the Spruce Grouse 
is merely an accidental visitor; the Heath Hen is nearing 
extermination ; and the Bob-white, now rare or wanting in 
many parts of the State, is more a bird of the field and 
garden than of the orchard or woodland. It is described on 
p- 325. This leaves only one species, the Ruffed Grouse, 
to be considered here, as the other species, introduced from 
time to time from other parts of the country, soon die out 
or are killed off by our arms-bearing population. This is 
particularly unfortunate, for Massachusetts, with her roeky, 
wooded hills, sandy plains, and fertile valleys, her stunted 
shrubby growths on Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard, and 
her many fertile fields, is naturally a paradise for Grouse in 
summer, and produces an abundant winter food supply for 
these hardy birds. 
