-a- 



The Insects by feeding on the herbs, shrubs and trees trans- 

 form the plant tissue Into animal life, and thus provide food for 

 other forms of life, including parasites and insects within their 

 own group, which hold them in such perfect check that their depre- 

 dations are not serious. 



The amphibians feed largely on insects; the frogs and toads 

 help in the control of those Insects which live on or near the ground, 

 while the salamanders and newts diligently search out the hiding 

 places of insects, or their eggs and pupae, on or under the rocks 

 and forest litter. 



The reptiles serve to maintain the natural balance by feeding 

 on animal life. The green and the gartner snakes which are per- 

 haps more generally abundant than other kinds, feed largely on 

 insects. The majority of snakes include in their diet frogs, 

 toads, salamanders, and other snakes, small mammals and birds, 

 and are especially fond of eggs. 



The birds of the forest may for convenience here b* grouped 



into two classes: 1. Those that have a direct influence on the 



trees and other vegetation thru destroying insects or feeding on 



seeds. 2. Those whose influences is more directly on the animal 



life, other than insects. The forms that serve as food for birds 



are thus held in check. Each group in turn prof ides food for its 



enemies. These various inter relationships result in the main- 



a 

 tenance of /natural balance. 



In the first group there are birds which frequent every part 



of the trees and other vegetation in search of food. The wood- 



