ECONOMIC VALUE OF BIRDS TO THE STATE. 



49 



bers of the Sparrow family that subsist entirely, or nearly so, on weed seed in the 

 winter will not be found far from convenient shelter to which they can repair in case 

 of danger." (Judd.) 



In spite of the great economic value, Snowflakes are killed in great numbers to 

 be sold for food under the name of " Reedbirds." On August 30, 1902, 78,000 odd 

 birds of this species were found in cold storage warehouses in New York City, 

 where they were held in defiance of the State law. 



Purple Finch {Carpodacus purpureas). — The Purple Finch at certain seasons 

 feeds largely on buds and blossoms and is said to damage fruit trees in this manner. 

 No thorough study of the food habits of the bird appears to have been made, and 

 until our knowledge of its economic status rests on sound basis we may well with- 

 hold judgment concerning its economic value. In the meantime we may remember 

 how comparatively few blossoms, under the most favorable conditions, bring forth 

 mature fruit, and consequently how many can be spared without affecting the yield 

 of a tree. 



Due consideration should also be given to the fact that the Purple Finch is 

 known to feed on plant lice. (See King.) 



American Goldfinch : Thistle Bird {Astragalinus tristis). — " The Goldfinch, or 

 Wild Canary, is as useful as it is beautiful, and as a weed destroyer has no equals. 

 It confines its attention very largely to one family of plants, the compositae, and it 

 is especially fond of thistles, wild lettuce, wild sunflower, and ragweed. It is so 

 often seen on thistles, both Canada and bull thistles, that it is commonly known as 

 the Thistle bird. Near Washington, D. C, a flock of a dozen birds were seen during 

 the latter part of August feeding on sunflowers that had escaped from cultivation, 

 and in the central and western States the Goldfinches do much good by eating the 

 seeds of wild sunflowers and other closely related weeds. They have also been seen 

 feeding upon wild lettuce {Lactuca spicatd), and probably eat prickly lettuce {Lactuca 

 scariola), which has proved the most rapidly spreading weed ever introduced into 

 this country, but as yet no actual observations as to the latter food habit have been 

 made. Stomachs collected in August were filled with seed of compositae, mostly 

 sunflowers (various species of Helianthus) and thistles {Cardans lanceolatus and 

 other species). 



"At Burlington, Iowa, during July and August, Mr. Paul Bartsch found Gold- 

 finches feeding exclusively upon bull thistle {Car duns lanceolatus). He was able to 

 approach within a few feet of several birds while thus engaged, and noticed that the 

 seeds or akenes were bitten off and swallowed, while the plumes or pappus floated 

 away. When there was no wind, the pappus often failed to fly away, and clung to 



