198 
ICTERUS PREDATORIUS. 
computation : If we suppose each bird, on an average, 
to devour fifty of these larvae in a day, (a very moderate 
allowance,) a single pair, in four months, the usual time 
such food is sought after, will consume upwards of 
twelve thousand. It is believed, that not less than a 
million pair of these birds are distributed over the whole 
extent of the United States in summer; whose food, 
being nearly the same, would swell the amount of 
vermin destroyed to twelve thousand millions. But 
the number of young birds may be fairly estimated at 
double that of their parents ; and, as these are con- 
stantly fed on larvse for at least three weeks, making 
only the same allowance for them as for the old ones, 
their share would amount to four thousand two hun- 
dred millions ; making a grand total of sixteen thousand 
two hundred millions of noxious insects destroyed in 
the space of four months by this single species ! The 
combined ravages of such a hideous host of vermin 
would be sufficient to spread famine and desolation 
over a wide extent of the richest and best cultivated 
country on earth. All this, it may be said, is mere sup- 
position. It is, however, supposition founded on known 
and acknowledged facts. I have never dissected any 
of these birds in spring without receiving the most 
striking and satisfactory proofs of these facts ; and 
though, in a matter of this kind, it is impossible to 
ascertain precisely the amount of the benefits derived 
by agriculture from this, and many other species of our 
birds, yet, in the present case, I cannot resist the belief, 
that the services of this species, in spring, are far more 
important and beneficial than the value of all that por- 
tion of corn which a careful and active farmer permits 
himself to lose by it. 
The great range of country frequented by this bird 
extends from Mexico, on the south, to Labrador. Our 
late enterprizing travellers across the continent to the 
Pacific Ocean, observed it numerous in several of the 
valleys at a great distance up the Missouri. When 
taken alive, or reared from the nest, it soon becomes 
familiar, sings frequently, bristling out its feathers, 
