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[FROM OHIO AGRICULTURAL REPORT, 1874 XlTj ^ V C - ' ^ 
I 
THE FOOD OF BIRDS AS RELATED TO AGRICULTURE. 
BY J. M. WHEATON, M.D., COLUMBUS, OHIO 
The relation which birds sustain to agriculture is one which has been 
deemed of sufficient importance to engage the attention not only of agri- 
culturists and ornithologists, but also of legislators. In part because ol 
the benefit supposed to be derived from them, the laws of this State pro- 
tect some throughout the Year, and provide at what times and how olhers 
may be destroyed. Although much has been said upon this subject from 
one stand point or another, I am not aware that any attempt has been 
made to present any thing like the entire, or even the salient points to be 
considered in determining what the influence of birds upon agriculture 
actually is. 
For this purpose I propose to givo a list of the birds which are found 
in the State, at the same time mentioning their general habit, whether 
resident during all or part of the year, or simply migrant or visitors. 
Those which are summer residents may be considered as breediug with 
us. To this I add, as ftr as may be correctly expressed in one or two 
words, an account of their relative abundance. Iu so doing I have not 
pretended to more than a general accuracy.. A bird may be given as 
migrant when a few remain and breed, the greater number of individuals 
of that species passing north of us for that purpose ; or one may be given 
as common, when in certain localities or in some years it is abundant, 
but in other localities or in other seasons it is not found. In general, 
these comments may be considered as correct according to my own ob- 
servations in the vicinity of Columbus, at the same time understanding 
that some birds have been given as common which have never beeu taken 
in this vicinity. 
I have named these birds in the order of I heir scientific arrangement 
and by families, and have given the principal and characteristic articles 
of food of the family, supplementing this by naming any peculiar or im- 
portant article known to be used by certain species only of the family. 
A glance will show that to enumerate the articles of food used by each 
bird would have caused much unnecessary repetition. 
The arrangement of the families is that of Dr. Cones in his Key to North 
American Birds, and the nomenclature that of his Check List, these being 
the latest and best authority on this subject, from whose works .also not 
a few of the facts here given were obtained.* 
* Key to North American Birds, containing a concise account of every species of living 
and fossil Bird at present known from the Continent North of the Mexican and United 
