548 
ECONOMIC RELATIONS OF OUR BIRDS. 
the Cowhird must prevent the destruction of many more insects than it is possi¬ 
ble for it to destroy. This is the more to be lamented since the Bunting has 
become so thoroughly accustomed to agricultural districts, where there are so 
many conditions which react against purely insectivorous birds, and w'liere, 
more than anywhere else, the services of these birds are especially needed. 
It should be added in this connection, that, so far as is known at present, the 
tendency of the Cowbird to prevent an undesirable abundance of birds is in a 
direction where there is the least danger. It appears wholly improbable that 
purely insectivorous birds can, under any circumstances, become over abundant, 
unless it be some forms which may be proved to feed largely upon beneficial 
insects. If there can be danger of any insect-eating bird, which is not destruc¬ 
tive to other birds, becoming too numerous, it must be mainly among those 
which, like many of the Finches and Starlings, can subsist upon seeds, grains 
and fruits when insects are scarce. As the Cowbird does not appear to affect, 
in any marked degree, these birds, it is likely to prove to be less serviceable, in 
this direction, than either the Shrikes, Crows, Owls or Hawks. While it cannot 
be deemed safe, in the light of present knowledge, to extirpate this species, it 
should be subjected to veiy careful observation, with a view to ascertaining, if 
possible, its actual influence over the abundance of other birds, and then, if 
this method should prove to be inconclusive, it should be nearly exterminated 
from some wide and suitable north-and-south belt for a series of years, and the 
results carefully noted by competent observers. In this way it may be hoped 
that reliable results may be obtained upon which future action may be safely 
based. 
Food: Of seven specimens examined, one had nothing in its stomach; one had 
eaten a hornet; two, three moths; one, a caterpillar; three, nine diptei’ous in¬ 
sects; one, three grasshoppers; one, a cricket; two, four beetles — one of them 
an elater; one, thirty eggs, probably those of a moth which had been eaten; 
two, seeds; and one, wheat. 
One bird taken from the nest of a Pewee had in its stomach a hornet, a cricket, 
five flies, one caterpillar and two moths. Another taken from a Pewee’s 
nest had been fed one elater, one moth, and two flies. It was this specimen 
which contained the thirty insect eggs. 
Corn, rice and various species of intestinal worms (Wilson). Insects (Cooper). 
Intestinal worms (Audubon). Flies, grubs, beetles, etc. At times it visits corn¬ 
fields (T. M. Trippe, Am. Nat., Vol. Ill, p. 294). Moths, caterpillars, beetles, 
hemiptera, spiders and seeds of weeds (Forbes). 
113. AGEL.ZEUS PHCENiCEUS (LiNN.), ViEiLL. RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD. 
Group I. Class b. 
In suitable localities no bird is as abundant as this species, and none as gre¬ 
garious. All are familiar with Blackbird-concerts in the spring and with the 
clouds of Redwings which scud across the fields in the fall. Late in May or early 
in June these birds disband and repair to wet meadows or to the sloughs border¬ 
ing streams, ponds and lakes, and these places, together with the high lands im¬ 
mediately adjoining them, are their feeding-grounds during June and July. 
Until after July — nearly four months — these birds feed almost exclusively upon 
insects and lead lives of nearly unalloyed usefulness. They breed, it should be 
remembered, in the native haunts of the army-worm, and it is presumable that 
they exert a great influence in holding them in check. Most of the corn-pulling 
which is attributable to the Blackbirds is done by the Purple Grackle, at least 
this has been my observation. 
