THE VEGETABLE FOOD OF BIRDS. 37 



our taste, but the rear guard of the southern-bound migrants 

 eat them with apparent relish. Cedar-birds, robins-, and other 

 thrushes are especially fond of them. 



The shrubs belonging to the honeysuckle family (Capri- 

 foliaeece) produce a number of soft fruits which are consumed 

 by birds. Those of the Viburnums — sheep-berry, withe-rod, 

 cranberry-tree, etc. — are all patronized by grouse, woodpeckers, 

 and the thrushes and their allies, though by no means with 

 the zest shown for cherries and other more favored fruits. 

 The elder-berries, on the other hand, have a more pro- 

 nounced following. The common elder-berry in particular 

 attracts birds in such numbers and variety that it ranks 

 among the leading wild fruits in this connection. The red- 

 berried elder is not so highly regarded, though it is visited by 

 wood-peckers and a few other birds. 



Among the late-maturing berries are those of the dog- 

 woods, belonging to the order Cornaeece. There are several 

 sorts of these which birds seem to hold in about equal 

 esteem. They are taken in moderation by nearly or quite 

 all the birds mentioned above as feeding upon fruits of this 

 nature. The one berry in this order of which the birds are 

 particularly fond is the sour-gum. Thrushes, woodpeckers, 

 crows, jays, and grouse are found assembled for this and 

 persistently abiding by it until the supply is gone. 



Among the heaths (Ericaceae) the most prominent fruits on 

 the avian bill of fare are the blueberries and huckleberries. 

 The abundance and edible qualities of these berries suffice to 

 account for their large consumption by all the fruit eaters. 

 Birds find the seclusion of the bushes not less agreeable than 

 the good food, just at a time when both are needed. It is 

 not strange that so many of them desert orchard and village 

 trees for the blueberry pastures when the trials of rearing the 

 young are over. 



The black alder, of the holly family (Ilicinece), is another 

 late-maturing berry eaten by woodpeckers and the thrushes 



