CARDINAL S FOOD ITEMIZED. 



25 



only 1 cardinal does harm to 15 which do good. The presence of this 

 single harmful bird among so many beneficial ones no more justifies 

 us in classing the species as injurious than would a like proportion 

 of disabled men justify the condemnation of a whole regiment. 



On the contrary, since the cardinal, by its general food habits, 

 does at least 15 times more good than harm, it must be classed among 

 the very useful species. The following list of important pests the 

 bird has been shown to prey upon is in itself sufficient proof of the 

 cardinal's value. The list includes the Rocky Mountain locust, 17- 

 year cicada, potato beetle, cotton worm, bollworm, cotton cutworm, 

 cotton-boll weevil, codling moth, rose-beetle, cucumber-beetle, fig- 

 eater, zebra caterpillar, plum scale, and other scale insects. A host 

 of minor insect pests are attacked and the seeds of many noxious 

 weeds are destroyed. The cardinal much more than pays its way, 

 and deserves and should receive strictest protection. The bird is 

 easily attracted by food in winter and by the provision of suitable 

 nesting sites in summer. Being thus responsive to human care, and 

 being so valuable economically, the cardinal's presence on the farm, 

 and even in the city garden, should be encouraged in every possible 

 way. With proper protection and encouragement it will become 

 more and more numerous and render husbandry a correspondingly 

 increased amount of useful service. 



LIST OF SEEDS, FRUITS, AND INVERTEBRATES EATEN BY THE CARDINAL. 



Corn (Zea mays). 



Rice (Oryza sativa). 



Kafir corn (Sor-ghum vulgare durra). 



Oats (Arena sativa.) 

 Wheat (Triticum vulgare). 



wild fruits. 



Red cedar (Juniperus rirginiana). 

 Solomon's seal (Pologonatum bi- 



florum). 

 Bristly Greenbrier (Smilax bona-nox). 

 Hickory (Hicoria sp.). 

 Oak (Quercus sp.). 

 Southern hackberry (Celtis mississip- 



piensis ) . 

 Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis). 

 Mulberry (Morus sp.). 

 Pokeberry ( PJi yiola cea deea n dra ) . 

 Tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera). 

 Spicebush (Lindera benzoin). 

 Blackberry (Rubus sp.). 

 Rose (Rosa sp.). 



Jnneberry (Amelanchier canadensis). 

 Red haw (Crataegus sp.). 

 Cherry (Primus sp.). 



Skunk bush (Rhus trilobata). 

 Poison ivy (Rhus radicals). 

 Holly (Ilex opaca). 

 Inkberry (Ilex glabra). 

 Maple (Acer sp.). 

 Summer grape (Vitis aestivalis). 

 Frost grape (Vitis eordifolia). 

 Bullace grape (Vitis rotundifolia). 

 Maypop (Passiflora incarnata). 

 Prickly pear (Opuntia opuntia). 

 Rough-leaved cornel (Corn us asperir 



folia). 

 Flowering dogwood (Comas florida) . 

 Blueberry (Vacciniuin virgatuni). 

 Knockaway tree (Ehretia elliptica). 

 Nightshade (Solanum sp.). 

 Elder (Sambucus sp.). 

 Arrowwood {Viburnum sp.). 



