DOES IT PAY THE FARMER TO PROTECT BIRDS ? 
171 
Blackbirds.— Blackbirds also, of which there are several species, 
at times and in certain districts destroy grain. On the other hand, 
blackbirds consume insects in a wholesale way, and so incline the 
balance strongly in their favor. 
Orioles.— Orioles eat insects to a much greater extent than vege¬ 
table food and are noted for their fondness for caterpillars. That 
the good done by orioles far outweighs the harm can not be doubted, 
especially since it has been ascertained that in the cotton fields orioles 
are persistent and successful enemies of the cotton boll weevil, and 
eagerly search the bolls for them, thus invading the very heart of 
the enemy’s citadel. 
Bobolink.— The bobolink, though *in summer a deserved favorite at 
the North and there chiefly insectivorous, in autumn is responsible for 
damages to the southern rice patches that annually aggregate many 
thousands of dollars. The bobolink is thus almost in a class by itself, 
earning deserved protection in summer at the North by reason of its 
beautiful song and its insect-eating habits, while incurring the sever¬ 
est penalties at the South in the fall for serious depredations on the 
rice crop. No fair-minded critic can condemn the southern planter 
who protects his own by means of powder and shot. The extermina¬ 
tion of the bobolink is not possible nor is it desirable, at least from the 
standpoint of those who cherish the bird in its northern home, but a 
material reduction of its numbers would probably effect a cure and 
satisfy the rice planters by making the bird practically harmless. 
Blue jay.— The blue jay is another of our pronounced vegetarians 
whose fare, taking the whole year round, is largely composed of in¬ 
sects; and were judgment to be pronounced merely as between the 
good it does by destroying insects and the harm it inflicts by eating 
corn and fruit, the verdict would be in favor of the bird. A fact, how¬ 
ever, recently brought to light seems to indicate that the blue jay is 
essaying a new role. As is well known, the brown-tail moth was intro¬ 
duced into this country a few years ago, and in the New England 
States has already inflicted serious injury. It will be fortunate for 
the country at large if the ravages of the insect can be limited to the 
States already infested. Contrary to the habits of our native moths 
the eggs of this foreign intruder hatch in the fall, and the young 
safely winter in their nests in the trees, to issue in the spring and 
begin their devastations on the opening foliage. Recently it has 
been learned that hundreds and thousands of these nests are torn 
open in winter and the young eaten, and the blue jay has actually 
been seen doing this. The blue jay will earn the title of bene¬ 
factor indeed should he be able to contribute materially toward a 
reduction of this pest, which not only threatens destruction alike to 
village shade trees and country forest, but seriously afflicts humanity 
