LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL 



U. S. Department of Agriculture, 



Biological Survey, 

 Washington, D. C, April 5, 1912. 

 Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith, and to recommend for 

 publication as Bulletin No. 44 of the Biological Survey, a report on 

 the Food of Our More Important Flycatchers, by F. E. L. Beal. As 

 more than 90 per cent of the food of the 17 species discussed in this 

 paper consists of insects, their economic importance is at once appar- 

 ent. Unfortunately some of the insects taken by flycatchers for 

 food are parasitic and predaceous Hymenoptera, which are to be 

 classed among useful insects. Impartial consideration of the diet of 

 these flycatchers throughout the year, however, leads to the convic- 

 tion that on the whole the birds do considerably more good than 

 harm, and hence should be protected as allies of the farmer and the 

 horticulturist. 



Respectfully, Henry W. Henshaw, 



Chief, Biological Survey. 

 Hon. James Wilson, 



Si en t'irij of Agriculture. 



