118 



THE GARDENER'S ASSISTANT. 



tion. The Long-eared Owl (Otus vulgaris) is 

 almost as common as the last, but lives and 

 breeds in trees. The Tawny Owl ( Ulula stridula) 

 is almost as common, and almost as widely 

 distributed. It lives in hollow trees, holes of 

 rocks, and sometimes in barns. Neither of 

 these should be molested, but allowed to breed, 

 and even encouraged, about homesteads. Some 

 of the smaller and rarer species feed wholly 

 upon beetles, grasshopers, and similar vermin. 



Partridge (Perdrix cinerea). — Except in large 

 gardens and pleasure-grounds, this bird will 

 seldom make its appearance; but it is useful, 

 inasmuch as it feeds on grubs, wire worms, and 

 cabbage-gall weevils, as well as grains, and is 

 therefore useful. 



Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus). — It is grati- 

 fying to know that in establishments where this 

 bird is bred largely, it compensates in great 

 measure for any harm it may do in gardens by 

 feeding upon wireworms and leather-jackets. 

 As many as 852 and 1225 of the latter have 

 been taken out of the crops of two birds that 

 were shot in winter. 



Poultry. — Such gallinaceous birds as barn- 

 door fowls and turkeys, and also ducks, are 

 general feeders, and prove serviceable in orchards 

 and gardens where they can be tolerated, on 

 account of the large numbers of caterpillars and 

 grubs which they destroy. 



Robin {Enjtltttai rubecuh). — This familiar 

 bird is a favourite everywhere, and needs no 

 panegyric to recommend it. During summer, 

 and in open weather, it feeds upon insects, 

 larvae, small slugs and other vermin. 



Starling (Sturnus vulgaris). — Tn summer tne 

 starling lives and breeds about homesteads and 

 other buildings where it can find a hiding place 

 for its nest. It frequents gardens, orchards 

 and similar places, where it feeds on caterpillars 

 grubs of chafers, and other insects. During 

 winter it frequents meadows and wet pastures, 

 often in company with lapwings and rooks, and 

 feeds upon wireworms, leather-jackets, and other 

 grubs. 



Swallows. — There are five British species 

 of this genus, all of which are incessantly catch- 

 ing insects on the wing, and three of them are 

 partial to the abodes of man and other houses. 

 They are entirely harmless to crops of any kind, 

 and are consequently at peace with every 

 cultivator. The Chimney Swallow (Hirundo 

 rustica) and the Martin (H. wrbica) most fre- 

 quently come within the range of the garden. 



Thrushes. — The Blackbird (Meruh vulgaris) 

 and the Song Thrush (Merida musica) are most 



frequent, and the best known in gardens of the 

 seven British thrushes. They feed upon slugs 

 and snails, and even break open the shells of 

 the large garden snail and its allies to get at 

 the unctuous body of the inhabitants. They 

 are so great favourites with everybody, on 

 account of the cheerful and musical character of 

 their song, that the destruction of them should 

 be avoided, notwithstanding their predilection 

 for fruits of various kinds in season. Being also 



J acknowledged as friends in the garden at other 



! times, their inroads against fruits should be 



| prevented by netting the latter. 



Titmice. — The Blue (Parus cceruleus), the 

 Greater (P. major), the Cole (P. ater), the Marsh 

 (P. palustris), and the Long-tailed Titmouse (P. 

 caudatus) should be protected wherever they 

 occur, for they feed upon insects and their larvae, 

 for which they diligently search on the stems, 

 branches, and buds of trees and bushes. The 

 Marsh Titmouse also devours the seeds of 

 thistles. The Blue Titmouse is the most com- 

 mon and familiar, and perhaps the most frequent 

 in gardens. 



Wagtails, — These beautiful birds belong to 

 the same family as the Titmice, but are much 

 larger, and feed upon insects on the ground, 

 including wireworms, as well as various flies 

 upon the wing, They also attend the plough, 

 and feed in meadows amongst sheep and cattle. 

 The Gray "Wagtail (Motacilla boarula) and the 

 Pied Wagtail (ill Yarrellii) are the most com- 

 mon, and would oftenest come within the 

 precincts of gardens, especially in the vicinity 

 of water. 



Warblers. — This group is numerous in 

 species, but unfortunately few of them are 

 particularly common in the vicinity of gardens. 

 Where wood and shrubberies are plentiful, the 

 most frequent would be the Black Cap (Curruca 

 atricapilla), Greater Petty chaps (C. hortensis), 

 and tne White Throat (C. cinerea). They are 

 sweet singers very shy, and feed upon insects 

 and their iarvse. The Willow W r arbler (Sylvia 



I trochihs) and the Chift chaft Warbler (S.hippolais) 

 frequent trees, and the latter particularly preys 

 upon insects that attack the Diossom of trees in 

 orchards. The Sedge Warbler (Salicaria PJirag- 

 mites) is confined to the margins of streams., 

 rivers, and moist places, so that only the 

 gardens near such places would be iavoured (oy 

 it. 



Woodpeckers and Tree Creepers. — 

 The bill of these birds is strong, wedge-shaped, 

 and suitable for excavating the trunks of trees 

 in the bark and wood of which grubs and cater- 



