Some Common Birds Useful to the Farmer. 8 
berry seeds, and even these probably belonged to wild rather than cultivated 
varieties. Following is a list of the various seeds which were found; Black- 
berry, chokeberry, juniperberry, pokeberry, partridgeberry, greenbrier, Viginia 
creeper, bittersweet, holly, strawberry bush, false spikenard, wild sarseparilla, 
sumac (several species), rose haws, sorrel, ragweed, grass, and asparagus. This 
list shows how little the bluebird depends upon the farm or garden to supply 
its needs and how easily, by encouraging the growth of some of these plants, 
many of which are highly ornamental, the bird may be induced to make its 
home on the premises. 
Two species of bluebirds inhabit the Western States—the mountain bluebird * 
and the western bluebird.’ In their food habits they are evep more to be com- 
mended than their eastern relative. Their insect food is obtainable at all 
times of, the year, and the general diet varies only in the fall, when some fruit, 
principally elderberries, is eaten, though an occasional blackberry or grape is 
also relished. In an examination of 217 stomachs of the western bluebird, ani- 
mal matter (insects and spiders) was found to the extent of 82 per cent and 
vegetable matter to the extent of 18 per cent. The bulk of the former consists 
of bugs, grasshoppers, and caterpillars. Grasshoppers, when they can be ob- 
tained, are eaten freely during the whole season. Caterpillars also are a 
favorite food and are eaten during every month of the year; March is the month 
of greatest consumption, with 50 per cent, and the average for the year is 20 
per cent. Two stomachs taken in January contained 64 and 50 per cent, respec- 
tively, of caterpillars. Beetles also : 
are eaten and comprise mostly 
harmful species. 
- The vegetable matter- consists of 
weed seeds and small fruits. In 
December a few grapes are eaten, 
but elderberries are the favorites 
whenever they can be found. It is 
only when these are in their great- 
est abundance that vegetable ex- 
ceeds animal food. 
THE ROBINS. 
ae 
Fig. 2.—Robin. Length, about 10 inches. 
The robin ° (fig. 2), in many parts 
of the country one of the most cher- 
ished of our birds, is found Hirowgnoitt the Sites : 
represented farther west and south by slig 
breeds far north through Canada, and is found even in Alaska. aa 
great bulk of the species leaves the Northern States in winter, a few a Ee rs ee 
remain in sheltered swamps, where wild berries furnish abundant oat ithe 
robin is an omnivorous feeder and its food habits have sometimes ee i ret oe 
hension to the fruit grower, for it is fond of cherries and. other igs ue 
particularly the earlier varieties. For this reason many comet a = Piet 
lodged against robins, and it has been necessary to permit the killing 
birds in some fruit-growing regions. 7 . . 
Examinations of 1236 eto ene show that 42 per cent of ate = Pega 
matter, principally insects, while the remainder is made up fine oe ehiah 
fruits or berries. Over 16 per cent consists of beetles, gore ae other insects 
are useful ground beetles, taken mostly in spring and eer Dk food, but in 
are scarce. Grasshoppers make up about 5 per cent of a = Penk while 
August they comprise 17 per cent. Caterpillars: form abou Laue Becks 
the rest of the animal food, about 11 per cent, is made up 0 ie ae ieee 
with a few spiders, snails, and angleworms. All the grass heey ie is safe to 
and bugs, with a large portion of the beetles, Bt acd ot the pout food. 
say that noxious insects comprise more than one-t) ents, over 42 per cent 
t 
Vegetable food forms 58 per cent of the stomach con ’ 2 e 
being wil Sie and only A little more than 8 per cent being possibly culti 
i in 
vated varieties. Cultivated fruit amounting to about 25 per cent was found 
east of the Great Plains, and is 
ly different subspecies.” It 
iali i 6 Planesticus migratorius. ; 
Sali peed RAEN i Pecos migratorius propinquus. 
5 Sialia mexicana subspecies. ee ee 
8 Planesticus migratorius 
