198 
ICTERUS PREDATORIUS. 
computation : If n e suppose each hird, on an averager 
to devour fifty of these larvae in a day, (a very moderate 
allowance,) a single pair, in four months, the usual tim® 
such food is sought after, will consume upwards 
tu elve thousand. It is believed, that not less than “ 
million pair of these birds are distributed over the whol*! 
extent of the United States in summer; whose fooJ> 
being nearly the s.ame, would swell the amount 
vermin destroyed to twelve thotisand millions. Bu* 
the number of young birds may be fairly estimated 
double that of their parents ; and, as these are coO' 
stantly fed on larvm for at least throe weeks, makiu? 
only the same allowance for them iis for the old ones> 
their share would amount to four thousand two hiiO' 
di ed millions ; making a grand total of sixteen thousaiw 
two hundred millions of noxious insects destroyed i" 
the space of four months by this single species I Tb*^ 
combined ravages of such a hideous host of vernii’' 
would be sufficient to spread famine and desoliitin^ 
over a wide extent of the richest and best cultival** 
country on earth. All this, it may he said, is mere suf 
position. It is, however, supposition found<‘d on kno'**' 
and adcnowledged facts. I have never disse(Ted aPf 
of these birds in spring without receiving the nJO*' 
striking and satisfactory proofs of these tacts ; 
though, in a matter of this kind, it is impossible t;! 
ascertain precisely the amount of the benefits derive" 
by agriculture from this, and many other sjiecies of 
birds, yet, in the present ca.se, I cannot resist the bel'e” 
that the services of this species, in spring, are far mee" 
iniportaut and beneficial than the value of all that l>f' 
tion of corn which a careful and active farmer perini*^ 
himself to lose by it. 
The great range of country frequented by this bir" 
extends from Mexico, on the soutli, to Labrador. 
late enterpriziug travellers across the continent to tb" 
Pacific Ocean, observed it numerous in several of fb" 
valleys at a great distance up the Missouri. 'VVli"" 
taken alive, or reared from the nest, it soon becon)"’ 
familiar, sings frequently, bristling out its featheV^’ 
