242 



THE GYPSY MOTH. 



man in the work of extermination. A few cases are noted 

 in which such colonies appear to have been exterminated by 

 birds. They are also useful in checking the increase of the 

 moth in large colonies. 



More species of birds are found attacking the moth in 

 orchards than in woodlands, though woodland birds often 

 visit orchards situated near their usual haunts, and orchard 

 birds visit badly infested colonies in woodlands. 



While birds are very useful in restraining local ravages of 

 the moth, it is probable that should the moth be allowed to 

 spread over the whole State, its increase would so outrun the 

 numbers of birds that they would have no appreciable effect 

 in checking its most serious outbreaks. 



The injury done by birds in distributing the moth and 

 destroying parasites and other useful insects appears to be 

 of little importance when compared with the good they do 

 in destroying the moth. 



If laws for the protection of birds were enforced, and if 

 birds were fostered, encouraged and protected generally by 

 citizens, there is no doubt that their efficiency as insect de- 

 stroyers could be greatly increased. The most important 

 service that could be rendered by birds in the case of the 

 gypsy moth would be the destruction of the eggs. This 

 service, supplemented by that of destroying the other forms 

 of the moth in summer, would be of very material benefit. 

 As no American birds appear to eat the eggs to an}^ extent, 

 it would be well to investigate thoroughly the habits of 

 European egg-eating species, with a view to their introduc- 

 tion into Massachusetts, if this should be found desirable. 



The Protection of Birds. 

 It is quite evident that by pursuing a jDolicy for the pro- 

 tection of birds, the number of birds in the region infested 

 by the gypsy moth and their efficiency as insect police could 

 be greatly increased. While the present laws for the pro- 

 tection of insectivorous birds are wise in the main, no 

 adequate provision is made for their enforcement, and they 

 are consequently a dead letter to certain classes of people. 

 A great many birds are killed and many nests broken up 

 by boys. In the fall the country swarms with gunners. 



