The Black-headed Grosbeaks 



sexual differences of parenthood. The mother is timid as well as tender, 

 indefatigable, indeed, in household ministrations, but a little pensive 

 withal, a clinging vine. The father is a hustler as well as an idealist. 

 He manages to bring in great loads of food every ten or fifteen minutes, 

 and the youngsters thrive amazingly. Nor does this model parent allow 

 increasing cares to weigh down his spirits. Even with his "market bas- 

 ket" laden to the brim, he shouts a cheerful snatch of song to herald his 

 approach; and the children greet his return with clamorous applause. 

 Lucky children of "Big Bill" ! he has a big heart, as well as a big beak. 



If we must descend to inquire as to the economic standing of our 

 large-billed friend, we shall find that he has a large and cultivated appe- 

 tite. We will admit with a smile that he is very fond of fruit in season, 

 especially cherries and figs. Well, then, feed him; he deserves the fat 

 of the land. Give him the best, and present the bill to the community. 

 The community ought to be made to pay, for the Grosbeak is a community 

 guest, and he is one of our chief benefactors. And I speak not alone of song, 

 but of benefits far more substantial. Hear what W. L. McAtee, 1 the 

 Government expert, has to say about it : 



"Aside from the fact that ravages by the Grosbeak may be prevented 

 or greatly reduced without destroying the birds, it is evident that their 

 general services to agriculture are so valuable that their destruction is 

 not to be considered. It is to be noted: First, that the animal food of 

 the Blackhead, consisting almost wholly of injurious insects, is practically 

 twice the bulk of the vegetable, or more than four times that portion 

 which is pilfered from man. Second, that the bird could not possibly 

 select insects more prejudicial to the interests of western horticulture than 

 the ones forming its natural food. These include the codling moth, 

 cankerworms, flower-beetles, and such scale insects as the frosted, apricot 

 and black olive scales. Finally, these formidable fruit destroyers alone, 

 not to mention 20 per cent of other injurious insects, compose two-fifths 

 of the entire amount of the Black-headed Grosbeak's food from April to 

 September, or at least three times as much by actual bulk as the fruit con- 

 sumed. In other words, for every quart of fruit eaten, more than three 

 pints of black olive scales and more than a quart of flower-beetles, besides 

 a generous sprinkling of codling moth pupae and cankerworms fall prey 

 to this Grosbeak." 



A peck of cherries is worth, say, two dollars to the producer. Set 

 that against the debit side of the bird's account. Granting that he could 

 do it at all, how much of a man's time would it take, without injury or 

 sacrifice of tree stock, to collect half a bushel of black olive scales? Say 



^ood Habits of the Grosbeaks, Bureau of Biological Survey Bulletin, No. 32, 1908, p. 76. 



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