12 
The woodpeckers and nuthatches which frequented the 
orchards were not seen to eat the eggs of the cankerworm 
moth. As they were not numerous, none were killed. Mr. 
Bailey observed, however, that the nuthatches were eating 
many scales which they found on the limbs of the apple 
trees in a neighboring orchard. In relation to these scales 
the following note from Mr. Kirkland is of interest : — 
March 20, 1895. Mr. Bailey brought in specimens of apple twigs 
infested with the bark scale louse. He reported that the nuthatch 
was feeding on them. These twigs were infested in a worse manner 
than I have ever seen before. They were literally covered with the 
scales. On one small twig, one-half inch in diameter, I counted 367 
scales on one inch of the twig. The eggs contained in a number 
of seales varied from 62 to 83, with an average of 70.1 
These scales, when numerous, are very injurious to the 
apple tree. Each scale covered a dead female of the preced- 
ing year and the hibernating eggs, many of which must have 
been disposed of by the nuthatches. It was shown, both by 
observation and dissection, that birds feeding in the same 
neighborhood and upon the same trees showed considerable 
variation in the character of their food. Kinglets taken had 
no cankerworm eggs, but had eaten largely of destructive bark 
borers. Woodpeckers seemed to confine themselves to the 
larvee of borers and to wood ants and other insects which 
bore into the wood of the tree. Chickadees and nuthatches 
ate the pup and eggs of insects found upon the bark or in 
- the crevices of the trunks. No birds were seen to eat the 
eges of the tent caterpillar, nor were any found in the 
stomachs of any of the birds examined. It seems probable 
that these eggs are so protected by a hard covering that they 
are not eaten by most birds; but Dr. J. A. Allen reports that 
the blue jay eats them.’ 
It is impossible, in the limited space at command, to report 
results of all observations and dissections in detail. It is 
feasible merely to give the apparent results of the presence 
of the birds in the orchard. These birds were not only de- 
1 The oyster-shell bark louse is the species eaten. 
2 Since the above was written, several species, including the chickadee, have been ob- 
served to eat these eggs. 
