272 NATURE’S MEANS OF LIMITING THE NUMBERS OF INSECTS. 
In reference to the currant saw fly worm (Nematus ventricosus) e 
I am not certain that I have seen any birds eat them, yet I think ~ 
the truly insectivorous species will do this.” 
That the Baltimore oriole sometimes eats large quantities of the : 
American tent caterpillar (Clisiocampa Americana), since they — 
have been found in the stomach of this bird by Mr. Maynard, 
is an interesting fact, for birds as a rule do not relish hairy — 
caterpillars, and the American tent caterpillar is covered with long _ 
hairs, though they are not so dense as in some other larve. In 
Europe the closely allied tent caterpillar (C. newstria), and those — 
of the Cnethocampa and Liparis chrysorrheea are said by Perris — 
and others to be almost untouched by birds. I have been told by — 
Dr. T. M. Brewer of Boston that the English sparrows upon the | 
common devoured all the caterpillars of the tussock moth (Orgyia) 
which were injuring a fine tree. These caterpillars are very — 
hairy, being adorned with pencils and tufts of long hairs. ga 
i Mt. John H. Sears, of Danvers, Mass., who has paid much 
attention to the habits-of our birds, informs me that the cuckoo, 
which breeds near houses, is an exceedingly useful bird, as it de = 
-vours the canker worms in large numbers. It is well that thie 
should be known, as there is a popular prejudice against this bird, 
from its habit of sucking the eggs, as well as laying its eggs ™ 
the nests, of other birds. Among the birds which he has cs 
self observed in the act of eating canker worms, are the king bird, 
the Baltimore oriole, the cat bird, the common flycatcher, We 
least flycatcher’or wood pewee, the red eyed vireo and a few — 
other small birds, such as certain warblers and flycatchers. The 
king bird in the month of May feeds on May beetles, as stated bY 
Mr. J. L. Hersey, in this journal. e 
I also quote from a letter on the subject, for which I am indeb 
to Dr. T. M. Brewer:— _ 
“The most noticeable of all the destroyers of the canker sin 
is the common cedar bird, which devours them to an extent per 
fectly enormous. Next is the purple grakle which also feeds 
Ẹ 
far as they go, are the chipping sparrow, the song sparrow: 5 
purplé finch, all the vireos, white-eyed, red-eyed, yellow-throa™ 
solitary and warbling, the king bird, the cat bird, the downy 
