The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1857-08-26
BiRDs---rHEiR UTILITY.

we DO not always know our best iftonds.
But experience sometimes teaches Us, work
ing out for us conclusions very unlike those
we had previously entertained. In the his
tory OF birds, similar examples are not
wanting. A writer Of note says, "Aher
some States had paid tbrespence dozen
for The destruction of blackbifds, The conse-
quence was total loss, in the year I74s,
Of all the grass and grain, by means OF in
sects, which had hourished under the pro.
lection Of that law" Another ornilhologist.
Wilson, computes tba, each redwinged black
bird devours, on an average, fifty grubs daily
during the summer season. Most birds live
entirely on birds and insects, and though
some are destructive 10 our cherries and
| other fruits, the numbers of such are small,
and these propensit;es are to be offset by
numerous and valuable services which 20
other agencies can perform.
The following descriptions may throw
light upon the treatment these birds have
a right TO claim al our hands:
The Baltimore Ofiole, a beautiful and
well-known bird, called sometimes Gold
robin, Hang bird, etc. |, feeds chiefly on
insects, and lis services are of great value
They visit our gardens for grubs only, and
thus prolec, our pea vines aud other plants
from a destructive enemy.
The red-winged blackbrd often arrives st
the North ere the snow has disappeared.-
II feeds on gruba, worms and caterpillars,
uifhnnf inAictipo anu ip;uru ,,non Tho I,,rr
or Hence ii does him very important ser
vice.
The Cow blackbird Is less numerous than
the species just described. They follow our
cattle, aud catch and devour the insects that
moest them. From this fact they derive
! their name.
Tho Rice Bunting, or Bob-o.llnk, is con.
slanlly employed in catching grasshoppers,
spiders, crickets, ETC., and thus does good
service. 1t is, however, said TO do some iu-
jury to grain, especially at the South, and
| particularly when they collect their young
| in hocks preparatory to flight toward their
| winter quarers.
The Crow blaekbird is one of our early
visitors. When i. deyours immense mum.
bers OF grubs, etc., it is also clearly proved
that II pulls up the corn. Southern farmers
attempt 10 diminish the amount Of depreds-
| lions, by soaking their corn Ia Glauben'
salts, making ii unpalalable to the birds
The American Crow devours every thing
eaable, without much apparent choice,
whether fruits, seeds, vegetables, reptiles,
insects, dead animals, &c.
The Cedar.bird gathers catterpilIers, worms
ETC., which it devours with an Unsuitable ap-
petite. Our cherries and olher fruit are not
spared. but are devoured, in their season, az
rapidly as are the canker.worms, and other
enemies OF the trees, in their season. But
whatever injury they may thus inAict seems
irremediabe, ss their numbers can scarcely
be diminished BY any agency 10 our con-
troll.
Ths King bird lives wholly on insects and
worms, without any mischevous, unless it
be occasionally TO devour honeybess. That
I he has Taste for such food is pretty we'll
established, though some deny it. [They
attack the drones, only.1
| The Cal-bird is constantly employed in
devouring wasps, worms, ETC., but does not
always spare our fruits. They devour of the
latter, however, much less than would the
insects they destroy.
! The Wood thrush lives on wurms, beetles,
etc, and never commits dspredstions o. any
kind. Their residence is much more con-
slant 10 The extreme South, Than farther north.
The Blue-bird confines himself 10 the de.
sIruction OF beetles, spiders. erubs, wire-
worEs, eic., aud though they attack The su.
mac and wild cherry, and other wild berries,
they do no injury 10 the fruits or vegetables
of the garden.
The Godeu-winged woodpecker 10 reputsd
as fruit steaier, but "wilh all its faults il
I is of great use 10 the horticuhurist
! The Red-headed " Woodpecker, like the for-
mer, helps itself TO fruits of all kinds, car
riss of apples even in Its bill; but this use
ful labor is also worthy of its hire; il does
much more good than evil.
The Dovuy WoodPecker, and perhaps
some other species, come under the same
category as those species already described.