8 RELATION OF BIRDS TO COTTON BOLL WEEVIL. 



insects, the wiser course would seem to be to give it legal protection 

 and thus afford it every opportunity to increase. 



Blackbirds. — The several species of blackbirds, though not shot 

 to any extent for food, are often killed wantonly for sport or in the 

 belief that they are injurious to growing crops. Corn is the only 

 crop in Texas which is liable to injury from blackbirds, and the only 

 sj^ecies likely to damage this crop to any extent is the big jackdaw, 

 or great-tailed grackle. Investigation of the food habits of this bird 

 by Prof. F. E. L. Beal has shown that nearly half of its food consists 

 of corn, much of which is waste grain, and about one-fourth of 

 insects. 



The Brewer blackbird and the bronzed grackle both eat corn to 

 some extent, but they are not generally accused of damaging this crop 

 in Texas, and both species have a pronounced fondness for feeding on 

 grubs and other insects in freshly plowed fields. It is believed that 

 their destruction of boll weevils much more than compensates for any 

 damage they may do to corn or other grain. Indeed, the writer is 

 inclined to consider the Brewer blackbird one of the most useful birds 

 in the State to the cotton grower. 



Both the cowbird and the redwing render valuable service in the 

 destruction of weed seed, which, in winter at least, furnishes the 

 greater part of their food. The Louisiana law protects all blackbirds, 

 except crow blackbirds (grackles) when actually destroying crops. 

 A similar provision in the laws of Texas prohibiting the killing of 

 any blackbirds, except when the}^ are actually engaged in injuring 

 crops, would seem to be for the best interests of the farmers of that 

 State. 



It is not absolutely necessary that the farmers wait for the enact- 

 ment of protective laws, but in the absence of such laws they should 

 take advantage of the laws against trespass and prohibit all shoot- 

 ing of plover and blackbirds in their cultivated fields. 



BIRDS REQUIRING SPECIAL PROTECTION. 



Swallows. — Information has been received by the Biological Sur- 

 vey that in west Texas cliff swallows (and probably also barn swal- 

 lows), which breed about buildings, are frequently killed and their 

 nests destroyed through the mistaken notion that the}^ harbor bed- 

 bugs. As a matter of fact, the parasites which infest birds, though 

 resembling to some extent the insects so objectionable to man, are not 

 the same and would quickly perish away from their normal hosts. 

 Hence, wherever these very useful swallows occur, not only should 

 they be allowed to nest, but every effort should be made to protect 

 them and increase their numbers. 



