36 BIEDS OF A MATtYLAND FARM. 



the orchard were present, notably in the case of the San Jose scale, 

 which in nian}^ places has threatened to ruin certain horticultural 

 interests. 



Unobtainable insects. — There are several insects that would probably 

 be palatable to birds if their habits did not render them unobtainable. 

 During the summer of 1898 a grain moth caused a loss of 50 percent 

 of the corn in the crib. The only birds that entered the building were 

 English sparrows, which prefer grain to insects, and therefore prob- 

 ably did not destroy the larvae. In 1900 tobacco was affected by a 

 stalk-borer, the larva of a crambid moth, and in 1898 corn suffered 

 severely from the corn stalk-borer {Diatrxa saccharoMs)^ but the 

 seclusive habits of these two larvae prevented the possibility of their 

 destruction b}^ birds. Certain kinds of flies, though palatable, are too 

 alert to be caught. This proved to be the case with house-flies, stable- 

 flies, bluebottle blow-flies, and horse-flies, particularly the banded- 

 winged form (Chrysojys). The last-mentioned flies were so numerous 

 that the}^ greatly anno3'ed both man and beast. The kingbird, the 

 barn sw^allow, and the bank swallow f requenth^ caught them, and in 

 single instances Acadian fl^^catchers, catbirds, song sparrows, and 

 chipping sparrows had eaten them. 



USEFUL INSECTS. 



In addition to injurious and neutral insects, certain species that are 

 useful to man contribute to the food of birds. They consist for the 

 most part of various kinds of bees, and numerous species of wasps and 

 beetles that prey on insect pests. 



Honey bee. — Birds are often accused of eating honey bees. The 

 kingbird is most frequently mentioned in this complaint, and his nick- 

 name of ' bee bird ' or ' bee martin ' attests the common belief about 

 him. It IS true that he is often guilty of the charge, but as he selects 

 the worthless drones and does not molest the workers, his habit is 

 not injurious to bee keepers. During 1895 and 1896 two hives of 

 bees within 30 feet of two kingbirds' nests were not meddled with 

 at all. 



A good deal has been written about the destruction by birds of use- 

 ful predaceous and parasitic insects that serve to keep insect pests in 

 check, and the assertion has been made that even though birds feed on 

 pests, thej^ destroy so many of these useful species that they over- 

 balance by this injury the good which they accomplish. Special 

 attention was given to this subject. Whenever any useful insect 

 was abundant at Marshall Hall the relation of the birds to it was 

 particularly noted. 



Soldier-beetles. — With the exception of rose-chafers the useful soldier- 

 beetle {Chaitliogiiathus j^ennsylvanicus) was the most conspicuous 



