558 MAN CONTROLS HIS ENVIRONMENT FOR WEALTH 



back, wings, and throat black, with the outer tail feathers, breast, 

 and under parts orange. The female is not so brilliantly colored, 



being yellow instead of 

 orange. The hanging 

 nests of the oriole, often 

 woven with bits of string, 

 cloth, and other materials, 

 are a common sight in 

 elm trees near our homes. 

 These birds prefer inhab- 

 ited areas and, because 

 of their protected nests, 

 are increasing in spite of 

 cats and the English spar- 

 rows. They feed largely 

 upon insects. As high as 

 92 per cent insect diet 

 has been recorded in the 

 summer season. The 

 cankerworm, tussock, 

 browntail, and forest tent 

 caterpillars were found in 

 the stomachs of northern 

 birds, while those examined in the south contained many cotton- 

 boll weevils. 



Screech owl. This is a small owl and one of the most useful, 

 as it feeds upon field mice and other small destructive rodents as 

 well as upon some moths, caterpillars, and beetles. It is about as 

 large as a quail, about nine and one half inches in length. Its 

 general coloring is gray on the under parts and reddish brown above. 

 The eye is yellow. It usually nests in hollow trees. 



Crow. Our common crow, a glossy black bird from sixteen to 

 nineteen inches long, is one of the few birds that may do more 

 harm than good. In the early spring the crow is useful, 80 per 

 cent of its diet being insect larvae, such as wireworms and 

 May beetle larvae. It also eats field mice, but later does much 

 harm in the newly planted corn fields. In parts of the country 



A flicker at its nesting hole. The stiff tail helps to 

 hold the bird in this position. 



