37§ 



REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF 



robin on the caterpillars, beside others mentioned above. Professor C. M. Weed 

 states that the robin, chipping sparrow, yellow bird and English sparrow feed 

 on the moths. 



The value of birds in keeping other pests under control is also strikingly shown in 

 the experiment conducted by Mr. Forbush. In a typical orchard at Medford, Mass., 

 -'a little trouble was taken to attract the native birds, the nests of the English or house 

 sparrow being destroyed. The results were greatly in favor of protecting our 

 indigenous forms. In the neighboring orchards it was evident that canker worms 

 and tent caterpillars were very numerous, but in the orchard in question, the trees 

 were seriously injured in only one or two instances, though no attempt was made to 

 control the insects by spraying or other artificial means. 



Our native birds are undoubtedly of great value and will richly repay any slight 

 effort that may be made for the purpose of attracting them to a locality. Winter birds 



Figure 6.— PlMPLA CONQUISITOR : a, larva ; 6, head of same ; c, pupa ; d, adult female— all enlarged. Lines beside 

 figures represent natural size. (After Howard : U. S. Department Agriculture, Division Entomology, Tech. 

 ser. No. 5, 1897.) 



may be induced to remain in a neighborhood by hanging in the trees pieces of meat 

 or partially picked bones, and will spend much time in searching out and devouring 

 numerous insects and their eggs, relying on the meat only when conditions are 

 unfavorable for obtaining insect food. Migratory birds may be induced to remain in 

 large numbers in a locality by providing them with suitable nesting places and 

 materials, and by protecting them from cats and cruel boys. Thickets in the vicinity 

 will afford shelter for certain species and if a few mulberry trees are set out, their fruit 

 will serve to protect cherries, as the birds are said to eat the mulberries by preference. 

 Most of these suggestions are taken from a very practical paper by Mr. Forbush. 



