5 
relation to agriculture, and The relation of sparrows to 
agriculture. 
The kind of work that is being done by the Bureau of 
Biological Survey in the United States is being done by 
the Bureau of Science in the Philippine Islands. Almost 
nothing is known of the food habits of birds of tropical 
countries, and the subject is of the greatest economic im¬ 
portance as well as of much scientific interest. Results 
of economic importance are being obtained as rapidly as 
possible. 
Investigations are carried along three lines: Inquiries 
in the form of circular letters and blanks, sent to farmers 
and others who are likely to have such information; exam¬ 
ination of the stomachs from each species when enough 
material has accumulated; and field studies of specific 
problems with subsequent examination of the specimens 
collected. 
In the field work an ornithologist goes into any given 
agricultural region and collects specimens of large numbers 
of species of birds in as many different months as may be 
practicable. From the examination of the stomach contents 
and from his field notes he determines the species of birds 
that eat grain and fruit, those that eat beneficial insects, 
and those that eat weed seeds and injurious insects. When 
the beneficial species of birds are determined, efforts may 
be made to protect them. Those of no benefit may be neg¬ 
lected, and the injurious ones may be killed. 
It is not intended to present here a final statement as 
to the food of any Philippine bird, but merely to suggest 
the probable economic status of a few common and well- 
known species and families. 
Crows .—Throughout the Philippines the common crow 
( uac)- is very generally looked upon as worthy of death 
for several reasons. Where unmolested, it is fearless and 
will even enter a house to carry off pieces of meat and 
fish; it has been seen to carry off young chickens bodily, 
and it is very generally credited with destroying small 
coconuts by pecking holes in them. No good trait of the 
2 Cor one philippina (Bonaparte). 
