178 
HALF HOURS WITH IKSECTS. [Packard. 
usual haunts and visit the fruit trees which are covered with 
canker worms and largely devour them. 
‘In reference to the currant saw fly worm (Nematus ventri- 
cosus ) I am not certain that I have seen any birds eat them, 
yet I think the truly insectivorous species will do this.’ 
“That the Baltimore oriole sometimes eats large quantities 
of the American tent caterpillar ( Clisiocampa Americana), 
since they have been found in the stomach of this bird by 
Mr. Maynard, is an interesting fact, for birds as a rule do 
not relish haiiy caterpillars, and the American tent caterpil¬ 
lar is covered with long hairs, though they are not so dense 
as in some other larvae. In Europe the closely allied tent 
caterpillar (O. neustria), and those of the Cnethocampa and 
Liparis clirysorrhcea are said by Perris and others to be 
almost untouched by birds. I have been told by Dr. T. M. 
Brewer of Boston that the English sparrows upon the com¬ 
mon devoured all the caterpillars of the tussock moth ( Or - 
gyia) which were injuring a fine tree. These caterpillars are 
very hairy, being adorned with pencils and tufts of long 
hairs. 
“Mr. John H. Sears, of Danvers, Mass., who has paid 
much attention to the habits of our birds, informs me that 
the cuckoo, which breeds near houses, is an exceedingly 
useful bird, as it devours the canker worms in large num¬ 
bers. It is well that this should be known, as there is a 
popular prejudice against this bird, from its habit of suck¬ 
ing the eggs, as well as laying its eggs in the nests, of 
other birds. Among the birds which he has himself ob¬ 
served in the act of eating canker worms, are the king 
bird, the Baltimore oriole, the cat bird, the common fly¬ 
catcher, the least flycatcher or wood pewee, the red eyed 
vireo and a few other small birds, such as certain war¬ 
blers and flycatchers. The king bird in the month of 
May feeds on May beetles, as stated by Mr. J. L. Hersey, 
in this journal. 
18 
