MOTH-EATINO BIEDS. 



207 



give public expression to their appreciation of the value of 

 birds as destroyers of noxious insects.* 



A study of the food of insect-eating birds leads to the belief 

 that if in any way their numbers and efficiency can be aug- 

 mented, an increase in agricultural products will be secured. 



Birds seex to feed upox the Gypsy Moth. 

 Thirty-eight species of birds have been identified when 

 feeding upon the gypsy moth in one or more of its forms. 

 Thev are as follows 



Yellow-billed cuckoo 

 Black-billed cuckoo, 

 Hairy woodpecker, 

 Downy woodpecker, 

 Pigeon woodpecker, 

 King- bird, 



Great-crested flycatcher 

 Phcebe, . 

 Wood pewee, 

 Least flycatcher, . 

 Blue jay. 

 Crow, . 



Baltimore oriole, . 

 Purple grackle or crow blackbird, 

 Chipping spaiTow, 

 Chewink, 



Kose-breasted grosbeak 

 Indigo bird, . 

 Scarlet tanager, . 

 Red-eyed rireo. 



Coccyzus americamis. (Linn.) 

 Coccyzus erythrophihahnus. (Wils.) 

 Dryobaies villosus. (Linn.) 

 Dryobates imhescens. (Linn.) 

 Colaptes auratus. (Linn.) 

 Tyrannus tyrannus. (Linn.) 

 Myiarclius crinitus. (Linn.) 

 Sayornis phoebe. (Lath ) 

 Contopus virejis. (Linn.) 

 Empidonax mmimus. Baird. 

 Cyanocitta cristata. (Linn.) 

 Corvus americanus. And. 

 Icterus gaJhula. (Linn.) 

 Quiscalus quiscula. (Liun.) 

 Spizella socialis. (AYils.) 

 Pipilo erythrophthalmus. (Linn.) 

 Habia ludoviciana. (Linn) 

 Passerina cyanea. (Linn.) 

 Piranga erythromelas. Yieill. 

 Yireo oUvaceus. (Linn.) 



* Townend Glover, first entomologist of the United States Department of Agri- 

 ciiltui-e, v^TOte in 1871 : " Insectivorous tiirds are the best allies of the farmer, and 

 were they all destroyed there is little doubt that it would be almost impossible to 

 raise certain crops." (Report of the United States Commissioner of Agriculture, 

 1871, page 71.) 



He also wrote : "A knowledge of their nature and habits is of as much impor- 

 tance to the farmer and fruit culturist as is the science of entomology." (Report of 

 the United States Commissioner of Agriculture, 1865, page 36.) 



Prof. C. T. Riley, late entomologist oi the Department of Agriculture, has testified 

 to the utility of birds as follows: "Few injm-ious insects can be well and fully 

 considered without reference to their liability to l)e devoured by varioiis natural 

 enemies, and especially birds." (Report of the United States Commissioner of 

 Agriculture, 1885, page 210.) 



Prof. John B. Smith, State entomologist of New Jersey, in an address to the 

 farmers of New Jersey, said: " Take care of youi- natural friends! Among these 

 the birds rank highest." ("Insecticides, and how to apply them," seventeenth 

 annual report of the New Jersey State Board of Agriculture, 1889-90, pages 29-i, 295.) 



