80 
The Rose-Breasted Grosbeak 
sons), and considerable wild fruit. “Wild fruit is greatly relished but 
cultivated fruit is not damaged, and although budding is practiced to a 
certain degree practically no harm; results.” As to insect-fare Mr. 
McAtee sums up the evidence as follows : 
“The Rosebreast preys to some extent upon such beneficial insects 
as parasitic Hymenoptera, ground-beetles, ladybirds, and fireflies. Only 
a tenth of the animal food is of this character, however, while among 
the remaining nine-tenths, which consists almost exclusively of injurious 
insects, is included a large number of formidable pests. Among these 
are the cucumber-beetles, the hickory-borer, plum-curculio, Colorado 
potato-beetle, Rocky Mountain locust, spring and fall cankerworms, 
orchard and forest tent-caterpillars, tussock-moth, army-worm, gipsy- 
and brown-tailed moths, and the chinch-bug. Few birds have so good 
record both as to the large number of important pests attacked and the 
slight amount of damage done.” 
A few particulars may be added. The Rosebreast is very fond of 
beetles, and especially of the weevils, among which are several of the 
most persistent and pernicious enemies of crops and garden plants and 
fruits; and the dreaded plum-curculio is found in almost every stomach 
examined. The coleoptera most eaten, however, are 
f e - ce leaf-beetles ( Chrysomelidce ) , among which are in- 
cluded the cucumber-beetle, the locust-leaf-miner and 
many other pests. Of one of the worst of these, the Colorado potato- 
beetle, the Rose-breasted Grosbeak is especially fond, eating its larvae 
so voraciously that cases are on record of a potato-patch being cleared 
by these birds alone. This habit alone ought to make the preservation 
of this bird the care of every gardener. 
To the fruit-raiser the bird’s services are extremely valuable, not 
only by devouring a great variety of caterpillars and borers injurious 
to fruit-trees and shade-trees, but because it feeds extensively on scale- 
insects and plant-lice. “These little pests can not have too many enemies 
for the good of mankind, and every bird that preys on them should be 
welcomed and protected.” 
§ 
Classification and Distribution 
The Rose-breasted Grosbeak belongs to the Order Passeres , Suborder Oscincs, 
and Family Fringillidce. It is found in summer, and breeds, from the central 
United States, east of the Rocky Mountains, to the Athabaska River in the North- 
west, and to the St. Lawrence River in the East ; and it winters in Central 
America and northern South America. 
This and other Educational Leaflets are for sale, at 5 cents each, by the National Association of 
Audubon Societies, 1974 Broadway, New York City. Lists riven on request. 
