18 
not been present. Even had they been numerous, they would 
have had little effect in checking the ravages of the canker- 
worm during the present year, as their interest is identical 
with that of the cankerworm, and they remain in its body 
until it has finished feeding, allowing it to defoliate the 
trees before completing their deadly work upon it. 
We do not know to what extent such parasites are devoured 
by birds. This we could not ascertain without shooting the 
birds, which would have defeated our main object. No 
parasites of the tent caterpillar or cankerworm were found 
in the stomachs of the few birds which were examined. It 
is hardly safe to draw conclusions from observations so lim- 
ited in their scope; but we may infer, from what was ob- 
served, that the egg-eating birds are of the greatest value to 
the farmer, as they feed almost entirely on injurious insects 
and their eggs, and are present all winter when other birds 
are absent. The summer birds which attack the larve are 
valuable also, if they can be so protected and fostered as to 
become sufficiently numerous to do the work required. It 
is evident also that a’ diversity of plants which encourages 
diversified insect life and assures an abundance of fruits 
and seeds, as an attraction to birds, will insure their presence. 
In this connection I wish particularly to note the fact that 
the mulberry trees, which ripen their berries in June, proved 
to be a protection to the cultivated cherries, as the fruit- 
eating birds seemed to prefer them to the cherries, perhaps 
because they ripen somewhat earlier. 
I believe it would be wise for the farmer to plant rows of 
these trees near his orchard, and it is possible that the early 
June berry or shad berry might also be useful in this re- 
spect. It is a handsome shrub or tree, flowering early in the 
season, and would be attractive at a time when other trees 
and shrubs are not in bloom. 
At the present time (July 23, 1895), the trees in the 
orchard appear to be in good condition. They have not suf- 
fered from the slight pruning of their foliage which was 
effected by the few caterpillars and cankerworms which sur- 
vived. The fruit is well set, and it now remains to be seen 
whether the birds will have any considerable effect in pre- 
