^46 THE IMPORTANCE OF BIRD LIFE 



weed seeds. Although it has a particular fond- 

 ness for cicadas and a few other insects, its use- 

 fulness to mankind stops right there. It prefers 

 grain to all other foods, but will take juicy fruit 

 and tender young buds without hesitation. Ap- 

 parently it has a liking for most crops valuable 

 to men. 



Eight pairs were introduced into this country 

 in 1850 from England, in the hope that they would 

 attack certain insects injurious to cereal crops. 

 The birds did not thrive well, and three years later 

 a second batch was imported and liberated in 

 New York City. This second shipment did' live 

 and multiply. After seventy years the English 

 sparrow stands second only to the robin as the 

 most numerous bird in the United States ! 



While the destruction of plant buds by the Eng- 

 lish sparrow is of common note, there are a few 

 other species which have this habit. Several, of 

 our finches, and the ruffed grouse in particular, 

 are partial to this kind of diet in winter. From 

 an economic point of view, however, the damage 

 done is small. A ruffed grouse requires from 800 

 to 1000 buds a day when the snow is on the 

 ground, but these are buds of forest trees; their 

 loss is not felt. Noticeable harm, on the other 

 hand, is caused by finches, who snap off the living 

 buds from cultivated shrubs and fruit. The 

 farmer has attended to the pruning of his stock, 



