88 REPORT 4, UNITED STATES ENTOMOLOGICAL COMMISSION. 
cies, either in its larva, chrysalis, or moth state, but only those which 
have been observed to do so will here be mentioned. 26 
All domestic birds, as turkeys, chickens, guinea fowl, and geese, are 
fond of the worms, and may be employed with benefit. Turkeys are 
the most efficient, but they get demoralized when locusts or grasshop- 
pers are abundant, by running after these, which they greatly prefer 
to the worms. Prairie chickens and quails often do good work in de- 
vouring the worms, while a Thrush (probably Earporhynchus rufus L.), 
the Rain Crow or Cuckoo (Goccygus americanus Bon.), Bluebird (Sialia 
sialis), Cardinal Grosbeak (Gardinalis virginianus Bon.), Mocking-bird 
(Mimus polyglottus L.), Blue jay (Gyanurus cristatus Sw.), Red-wing 
blackbird (Agelccus phoeniceus Vieill.), Rice bird (Doliohonyx oryzivorus 
L.), and Killdeer plover (JEgialitis vocifera), are more or less persistent 
in feeding upon them. The domestic birds and some of the wild species 
may be attracted to a field by scattering a little corn or other grain on 
the ground. The most effective help to man is rendered by the gre- 
garious species such as the Rice bird 3 and Blackbirds, and they have 
protected and saved fields near their favorite resorts or resting-places. 
The Rice birds occur in large swarms only in the vicinity of swamps; 
the Blackbirds are more generally distributed, but unfortunately they 
nearly all migrate northward in June from those localities which are 
most exposed to the attacks of the worms, and they seldom return again 
till after frost. It is quite amusing to watch how deftly they will ex- 
tract the chrysalis from its leafy or silken covering. Mr. Hubbard, 
while at Centerville, Fla., found that the worms had appeared in great 
numbers in a bottom of a quarter-acre patch of cotton on the plantation 
of a neighbor. On Saturday this was being rapidly eaten out, but on 
the following Monday not a worm could be found, and the cotton was 
left in statu quo. On Saturday and Sunday large flocks of Blackbirds 
had been seen in the neighborhood, and these were presumed to have 
devoured the caterpillars. 
We may also mention the following additional species as among those 
which have been observed to destroy the worms : The Bee-martin or King- 
bird (Tyrannus carolinensis, Baird), the Indigo bird (Gyanospiza cyanea y 
Baird), the Nonpareil (Cyanospiza ciris, Linn.), the Orioles (Icterus), the 
Barn swallow (Rirundo horreorum, Bart.), the Loggerhead or Southern 
shrike (Collyrio ludovicianus, Baird), the Sparrows (Spizella), the Wild 
turkey (Meleagris gallopavo var. gallopavo), the Quail (Ortyx virginianus 
Bonap.), Partridge (Bonasa umbellus var. umbellus Stephens), the Prairie 
chicken (Gupidonia cupido var. cupido Baird). Of nocturnal birds, sev- 
eral, and among them the Night-hawks (Chordeiles), are supposed to feed 
on the moths, but the proof is necessarily difficult to obtain except by 
shooting and examination of their stomachs, and 1 cannot find that this 
has been done. 
The introduction of the English Sparrow has been recommended by 
several writers. The experience so far had with it would indicate that 
