22 BIRDS OF A MARYLAND FARM. 



nose^ and mouth. No birds were collected, for it was evident that all 

 were feeding on crane-flies, which formed the onh^ abundant supply of 

 insect food. Several species of sparrows, including song sparrows, 

 white-throated sparrows, and chipping sparrows, were observed greed- 

 ily eating them. A pair of kingbirds left their perch on an apple-tree 

 spra}^ ever}^ now and then to snap up the insects, and a Marj^land yel- 

 low-throat, several meadowlarks, .and a pair of bobwhites feasted on 

 the swarming prey. These insects fly feebh^ and are easily caught; 

 and since there is hardh' an insectivorous bird that is not known to 

 take them, it seems safe to conclude that when they are abundant they 

 are eaten in great numbers. Coming as the}^ do in the spring, when 

 other food is scarce, they are a boon to birds. They supply both the 

 newly arrived species and those that are about to journey to their 

 northern nesting grounds. The destruction of crane-flies b}^ birds is a 

 benefit to the farmer, as they are injurious to grain and grass. Their 

 larvae, repulsive, leathery -looking objects, feed underground, largely 

 on roots. Crane-flies are said to do great damage in Europe, but are 

 much less important in this country. 



MAY-FLIES. 



Of all the insects on the farm, the May-fly (fig. 5), during the period 

 of its aerial life, is undoubtedly the most abundant and the most con- 

 spicuous. The respective numbers of other spe- 

 cies fluctuate greatly from 3^ear to 3^ear, but the 

 mj^riads of this plague are nearly alwa3"s constant. 

 Fortunately the life of the adult lasts only from a 

 few hours to two days. As a water nymph, how- 

 ever, the insect lives from one to three years. 

 When the locust trees are dropping their blos- 

 soms, usually about the middle of May, the 

 nymphs rise to the surface of the Potomac, trans- 

 -May-fly (from f^^.j^^ j^^o adults, and flutter to the shore. The 

 suddenness with which they appear and their vex- 

 atious numbers may be understood from a description of the conditions 

 that prevailed at Marshall Hall from the 13th to the 15th of May. 1900. 

 On the morning of the 13th not a May-flv was to be seen. In the late 

 afternoon several were noticed along the shore. On the 11th many 

 came up from the river and flew around the house, and on the morn- 

 ing of the 15th thousands were found clinging to the porch. The}" 

 soon spread all over the farm, or, more strictly speaking, were blown 

 over it. The air was full of them. After a walk of a hundred yards 

 along the bluft' in lot 3, I found 67 clinging to me. They covered the 

 cedar trees beside the river, turning, the dark green of the foliage to 

 a distinct gray. They frightened the horses so badly by alighting on 

 them that plowing was suspended for several days. They swarmed 

 into the house and made meal-times almost unendurable. This condition 



