Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-05-16

| 81: J ]:
M//A Ne MA years the De-
MAJ q IVA part m n OF
HHs RA Nm Am NJ Agriculture Of
H. VhEsss%NN lVhy the Unit 10 d
" jsHEgLST4SW VI States has been
Nh NHW y carrying on o
Y 9rVN% wonderful i'm
w" ~ yestigation as
~--Ss to the utility Of
our birds and their relation to agri-
culture. This investigation has been
systematic, as we'll as scientific, and
the conclusions reached are OF vital
interest to every farmer. These ex-
periments furnish ample proof to tho
inquiring mind of the Importance OF
protecting nearly all of our birds by
law. At the same time these interest
ing statements are not read because
they are placed 10 government report.
The following facts taken from
Farmers Bulletin, No. %, furnish IN.
teresring testimony in favor of some of
our common birds:
The Cuckoos AN examination of the
stomaohs of 46 black-billed cucl5oos,
taken during the summer months,
showed the remains of sos paterpiijars,
A beetles, 96 grasshoppers, 100 saw
flies, 30 stink bugs, and 10 spiders.
Most of the caterpillars were hairy, and
many of them belonged to genus that
lives in colonies and feeds ON the leaves
OF trees, including the apple tree. The
beetles were mainly click beetles and
weevils, with few May beetles.
OF the yellow-billed cuckoo, 109
stomachs COLLECTED from May to Ooto-
Der, inclusive) were examined. The
contents consisted of /, 1865 oaterpillars,
SO beetles, 242 grssshoppers, 81 sawhies,
SO bugs, 6 flies, and SO spiders. Most
OF the oaterpillars belonged to hairy
species and many of them were of large
size. One stomach contained 250
American tent oaterpillars another 2l7
fall webworms. The saw9ies were in
the larval stage, in which they re-
semble caterpillars SO closely that they
are commonly called false caterpillars.
The bugs consisted of stink bugs and
cicadss or dog day harvest flies.
The Woodpecker- are prone
to look upon woodreckers with sus.
picion. When the birds are seer
scrambling over fruit trees and peckine
at the lark, and fresh holes are founo
In the trse, IL is concluded that they
are doing harm. Careful observers,
however, have noticed that, excepting
single SPECIES, these birds rarely
leave any important mark on healthy
tree, but that when tree is affected
by wood. buring Larvae the insects are
accurately located, dislodged ant
deyourtd.
Two of the best known woodpeckers
the hairy woodpecker and the down,
woodpecker, including their races
range over the exeater. part of thu
United States, and for the most par
remain throughout the year in thei
usual haunts. The flickers, whil
genuine woodpecker, differ somewha
in habits from the rest of the family
and are frequently seen upon the grount
searching for food. Like the down;
aud hairy woodpeokers, they eat wood
boring grubs and ants, hut the numbe
of ants eaten is much greater. Two o
the fliokers' atomachs examined YER
completely filled with ants, eacl
stomach containing more than 800
individuals. These ants belonged +
species which live In the ground, ant
IL is these insects for which the fiicke
is searching when running about in tn
grass. although some erasshoppers ar
also taken.
The King Bird-The king bird mani
fests its presence in many ways. 1t j
somewhat boisterous and obtrusive
and its antipathy for hawks end crow
lis we'll known. 1t never hesitates +
give battle to any of these marauders
no matter how superior in size, an
for this reason family of king bird
is desirable adjunct to poultr
yard. The chief complaint against tn
king bird is that it preys largely upo
honey bees. The biological Survey ha
made an examination of 2S1 stomach
collected in various rarts of tn
country, but found only IA oontainin
remains of honeybees. In these l
stomaohs there were 10 all 30 horey
bees, of which 40 were drones, four wer
certainly workers, and the remaining
six were too badly broken to be identi
fed as to sex.
Insects that constitute the great bull
OF the food of this bird are noxion
species, largely beetles May beetles
click beetles 1.-THE Larvae of which are
known as wire worms, weeyils, whicl
prey upon fruit and grain, and hos
of others.
Three points seem to be clearl
established in regard to the food of tn
king bird: (1) that about 80 per cen
consists OF insects, mostly iniuriou
species; (2l that the alleged habit O
preying upon buneybees is much les
prevalent than has been supposed an
probably does not result in any grea
damage; and 49, that the ivegetabl
food consists almost entirely of will,
fruits which have no economic value
These facts, taken in connection witt
its well-known enmity for hawks an
crows, entitle the king bird to plac
among the most desirable birds of tn
orchard or garden.
The Phebe--The phoebe subsist
almost exclusively upon insects, most O
which are caught upon the wing. A
examination of so stomachs showed tina
over 93 per cent of the years food con
siste OF insects and spiders, while wilt
fruit constitutes the remainder. TIL
insects belong chiefly to noxious specie
and include many click beetles, Ma.
beetles and weevils.
There is hardly more useful specie
than the phuhe about the farm, and ]
should receive every encouragement.
These facts should prove most con
vincing to avery farmer in our State
and our binds should receive protectio