310 A Plea for the Birds 



contain 40 entire chinch bugs. Two stomachs 

 of pine siskins contained 1900 block olive scales 

 and 300 plant-lice. A killdee's stomach con- 

 tained 300 mosquito larvae; and a flicker's, 

 28 white-grubs. A night-hawk had eaten 340 

 grasshoppers, 52 bugs, 3 beetles, and 2 wasps. 



" Fifty-one species of birds eat hairy cater- 

 pillars, and 38 species feed on plant-lice." 



Think what it would mean to plant life if the 

 percentage of insectivorous birds was doubled or 

 trebled, and think how much the labors of the 

 gardener would be reduced. And birds will in- 

 crease in numbers if proper homes are provided for 

 them. Not the same style of home will do for all 

 birds. Martins want roomy houses, robins want 

 open houses, wrens require houses with entrance 

 holes so small that larger birds cannot enter and 

 drive them away. And the home must always 

 be adapted to the needs of the particular kind of 

 bird which is expected to occupy it or it will not 

 be likely to attract them. 



And birds are somewhat exacting about the 

 location of their homes. All mankind is not yet 

 friendly to the birds and they are suspicious of 

 human beings in general. They prefer a home 

 hidden among the limbs of trees or secluded among 

 bushes or vines. A bird will have to be pretty 



