BENEFICIAL INSECTS—BIRDS USEFUL TO FARM AND ORCHARD 
menoptera. Introduced from Europe, 
where 1t is a very effective check upon 
the codling moth (Carpcapsa pomonella), 
the apple worm. 
Ichneumon species are the most difficult 
to establish of all our beneficial species, 
often requiring several years to become 
numerous enough to be of great benefit. 
A large stock of this particular species 
is reared each year and _ distributed 
throughout the apple and pear growing 
sections of the state 
This is one of the most interesting 
species propagated at the Insectary and 
we hope to eventually establish it in all 
sections of the state. Marked results are 
expected from its introduction as soon as 
it can adjust itself to our unnatural con- 
ditions that at present prevail in our 
commercial orchards. 
Epwirp K, Carnes 
December 20, 1912. 
Note—The etehings and descriptions in fine 
print of insects in this alticle are from the 
Monthly Bulletin of the California Commis 
sion ot Iforticulture, Vol II, Nos. 1 and 2 
The photos are by the author, excent kig 
19, which 1s from the above source —Edito1. 
Birds Useful To Farm and 
Orchard 
Entomologists estimate that insects 
yearly cause a loss of over $700,000,000 
to the agriculture of the United States. 
Were it not for our birds, the loss would 
be very much greater, and it is doubtful 
if agriculture would be possible. A 
knowledge of the birds that protect the 
crops is therefore as important as a 
knowledge of the pests that destroy them. 
Such knowledge is the more important, 
because some birds are injurious, some 
are partly useful and partly injurious, 
and others, a few, are always useful. 
For instance, there are insects that are 
parasitic and predatory, feeding upon 
other insects that injure the crops, but 
insectiverous birds destroy the useful and 
harmful alike. However, the good they 
do by the destruction of harmful insects, 
is far greater than the harm they do by 
the destruction of useful kinds. Even 
the birds called noxious, possess some re- 
deeming qualities and traits. Thus the 
crow is mischievous in spring, pulling up 
623 
the newly planted corn, and destroying 
the eggs of useful birds. But on the 
other hand, he eats insects, grubs, cut 
worms, meadow mice, gophers and other 
rodents, so that he is more useful than 
harmful. 
Because their powers of flight enable 
them to gather rapidly at points where 
there are abnormal outbreaks of insects, 
birds are especially useful in protecting 
certain localities from scourges of grass- 
hoppers and other pests; for an unusual 
number of insects in any particular lo- 
cality attracts the birds, and they never 
leave until the insects are under control. 
America is greatly favored in the num- 
ber and character of its birds, which not 
only include some of the gems of the bird 
world, 28 warblers and humming birds, 
but on the whole embrace few destruc- 
tive species. Not only do many birds sat- 
isfy our esthetic sense through their 
becutiful plumage and their sweet voices, 
but they are marvelously adapted to their 
respective fields of activity. No other 
creatures are so well fitted to capture 
flying insects as swallows, swifts and 
nighthawks. Among the avian ranks also 
are wrens, trim of body and agile of 
movement, that creep in and out of holes 
and crevices and explore rubbish heaps 
for hidden insects. The woodpecker, whose 
whole body exhibits wonderful adaptation 
of means to an end, is provided with 
strong claws for holding firmly when at 
work, a chisel-like bill driven by power- 
ful muscles to dig out insects, and a long 
extensible tongue to still further explore 
the hidden retreats of insects and drag 
forth the concealed larvae, safe from 
other foes. The creepers, titmice, warb- 
lers, flycatchers, quails, doves, and other 
families have each their own special field 
of activity. However unlike they may be 
in appearance, structure, and habits, all 
are similar in one respect—they possess 
a never flagging appetite for insects and 
weed seeds. 
One of the most useful groups of native 
birds is the sparrow family. "While some 
of the tribe wear gay suits of many hues, 
most of the sparrows are clad in modest 
brown tints, and as they spend much of 
