804 YEARBOOK UF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
soon became a nuisance. These conclusions, as has been suggested in 
several recent considerations of this subject, point to the planting of 
wild fruit about gardens and lawns as a protection to the cultivated 
varieties. Many of the wild fruit shrubs are ornamental, either in 
flower, as the shadbush (Aselanchier), or in fruit, as the mountain ash 
(Sorbus). 
CEDAR WAXWING. 
The cherry bird or cedar waxwing (Ampelis cedroruwm) occurs over 
the greater part of the United States and is known everywhere by its 
fondness for cherries and other smal] fruits. Like the robin and cat- 
bird, however, it eats far more wild than cultivated fruit. Complaints 
against it have been chiefly on account of cherry eating, but its depre- 
dations are mostly confined to the early ripening varieties of cherries. 
By the time the later kinds ripen other fruits have also become abun- 
dant, and the bird’s attention is probably diverted. 
Besides eating fruit, the robin, catbird, and waxwing destroy many 
harmful insects, and, where not too numerous, probably do much more 
good than harm. All three species are very abundant in New England, 
but are seldom molested. The cherry bird is the only one of which 
serious complaint is made, and that simply on the score of stealing 
early cherries, while the robin is regarded almost as sacred. 
CAUSE OF HARM BY BIRDS. 
A careful examination of the circumstances in which birds have done 
harm leads to the belief that the damage is usually caused by an abnor- 
mal abundance of a species within a limited territory. In such cases 
so great is the demand for food that the natural supply is exhausted 
and the birds attack some of the products of garden or orchard. 
Economically considered, birds are simply natural forces, and it 
should be our purpose to ascertain how they may be turned to our 
greatest advantage. The best economic conditions are probably ful- 
filled when birds are numerous as species and moderately abundant as 
individuals. Under such conditions there will be a demand for food 
of many kinds, without excessive demand for any one kind. The most. 
desirable status would seem to be such a relation of numbers and spe- 
cies between birds and insects that the birds would find plenty of food 
without preying on useful products, while the insects would be held 
in such check that they would neither increase to a harmful extent nor 
be completely exterminated. The proper course to pursue, apparently, 
is to study the food habits of both birds and insects, to favor the 
increase of species which seem best adapted to preserve the proper 
balance, and to reduce the numbers of those that prey too greatly on 
the products of orchard or farm. 
