FOOD OF BIRDS. 
7 
for hybernating insects, their larva: and eggs, snails, etc. Those winch 
are resident all the year, and those which are summer residents only, 
subsist during the breeding season and feed their young a ■ 
exclusively upon insects. At other times their food doc s 
fer from those before named, consisting largely of seeds of grass and 
weeds. The common Yellowbirds prefer the seeds of thistles am _ 
like, often destroying seeds of lettuce ; but it also feeds upon the Hessian 
fly. It is also fond of certain oily seeds, as those of the sun ower. 
During the breeding season their insect food is as varied as tuat o e 
Sylvicolid®, and embraces beetles, .grasshoppers, caterpillars canker 
and cut-worms, and other worms, larvie, and eggs ot insects. ' 
breasted Grosbeak is especially mentioned as feeding upon berries of 
sour-gum and juniper, and is .be only bird known to devour the Colorado 
beetle or potato-bug ; but it should be noted that the appearance ot this 
pest has not caused an increase in numbers of these birds, nor ave e 
comparatively few birds which breed with us effected any considers . 
reduction in numbers of these insects. The Cardinal or common cage 
Redbird feeds upon corn, both when wild or confined, and » also said to 
devour bees. It may be here remarked that the migrants ot this family, 
as well as other migratory graminivorous birds, pass north ear ler m 
spring, and south later in fall, than do the insectivorous migrant. 
Family Icterid-ZE. American Starlings. 
Dolichonyx oryzivorus. Bobolink; Rood Bird; Rice Bird. Sammer resident. Abundant. 
Molothrus ater. Cowbird. Summer resident. Very abundant. 
A*el®08 phamtceu* Red-winged Blackbird. Summer resident. Very abnmlai t. 
Xanthocephalns icteroeephalne. Yellow-headed Blaekb.rd, Accidental m summer. 
Stnrnelta magna. Field-lark ; Meadow-lark. Summer resident. Abundant. 
Icterus spurius. Orchard Oriole. Summer resident. Very common 
» Baltimore. Baltimore Oriole. Summer resident. Abundant. 
Scolecopbagus ferrugineus. Rusty Graklo. Migrant. Abundant. 
Quiscalus purpureus. Purple Grakle ; Crow Blackbird. Summer Resident. Very 
abundant. 
The Starlings constitute the most decidedly gregarious family among 
land-birds which is largely represented among us. Even during the breed- 
ino- season, when the flocks of Sparrows are broken up. and each family 
live in independence, the Starlings associate together. Like the previous 
family they are graminivorous with us only in the fall. Their food consists 
of various insects, large and small, beetles, may-flies, caterpillars, grass- 
hoppers, crickets, moths, flies, larvne, spiders and bogs. As to the grains 
they ear, the Bobolink gives preference to the seeds ol weeds ; the Cow- 
bird to the droppings of animals; the Red-winged and Crow Blackbirds 
to corn and other grains. The latter also destroys the eggs, and accord- 
ing to Dr. Coues, the young of other birds, while the Rusty Grak.e-the 
