CONTENTS 



Page. 



I. Introduction 9 



Topography of Bryan farm 10 



Distribution of birds 12 



Birds that feed in open fields 12 



Birds that depend on cover 15 



Birds of less limited distribution 17 



Birds of varied distribution 19 



Topography of Hungerford farm 20 



II. Insect food 21 



Crane-flies 21 



May-flies 22 



Infested crops 24 



Infested trees and shrubs 28 



Certain destructive insects 30 



Useful insects 36 



Summary 41 



Food of nestlings 43 



General remarks 48 



III. Vertebrate food 50 



Poultry and game 50 



Fish 53 



Carrion 53 



Mammals 54 



IV. Fruit 55 



Cultivated varieties 55 



Wild fruit 58 



V. Grain . 65 



VI. Weed seed : 70 



Weed destruction by native sparrows 72 



Weed destruction by other birds 75 



VII. Species 79 



Water birds : 79 



Grebes 79 



Loons 80 



Murres 80 



Gulls and terns ^ 80 



Ducks, geese, and other waterfowl 80 



Herons 81 



Eail 81 



Coots 81 



Shore birds 82 



Gallinaceous birds 83 



Pigeons and doves 85 



Vultures 85 



5 



