The Washington times., 1904-10-16

rapid digestion. this may not reDresent
the fun number consumed In the stoul-
aChs Of 10 CuCko0s were found Z,T71 cat
erpillars, or eighteen TO each stomach.
On account of the stih hairs on some
of the family of caterpilIars, they are
let alone by other birds, while the
cuckoo eats them. hair and all. 1T not
infrequeutly happens, when the stomach
Of a cuckoo IS examined. that the hairs
of the caterpillar have penetrated the
inner lining OF the stomach. become fas-
tened, and form a perfect fur lining
Another bird that is much mzligned By
the farmer is the beautiful Baltimore
ori0Ie- TWeuty-f0ur per cent OF its food
consists Of caterDillars. and though ac-
cused of stealing grapes and other
fruits, an examination failed TO find any
remnants Of such diet In the stomach.
on the other hand. they pick the green
lice from the heart Of fruit blossoms
completely and swiftly, besides which
they. consume a lot of other insects.
s'OIE Molly Cotton Tail, famed In song
and rhyme, has the reputation Of having
ruined ana orchard of 300 young trees IN
Iowa ia a single winter, and in nur-
sery Of less than five acres over in
Maryland and not far from Washing
ton 1000 1ut of an orchard Of 40o3 trees
were ruiaed within a period Of two
months NOW. say the scientists. the
sworn enemy OF the old cotton tail is
the great horned owl, ana had these or
chards not been so close TO the buildings
and so far from the woods. the owl
would have saved the trees from depre-
datiou-
/ i'm .he same class with the great
horned owl are other owls and hawks.
the latter being thought the most vicious
chicken thieves on record.
There are 5eventy-three species Of
birds who i've upon animal diet, and
after an examination Of 900 stOmachs
lcuIy six of the seventy-three were found
+ to be harmful out Of f0rty-fVe st0m-
I achs examined, not one trace Of fowls
/ OF any kind was found
/ In one OF those gTuesOme towers Of the
I old Smithsonian Institution, that looks a
nt place Tor lonesome night birds was
found the nest or a pair or barn owl a
I and found In q snort space OF time the
remains Of l.5s1 small mammals mostly
rodents, s. birds, and 1rogs- OF the
rodents Ills were meadow mice one OF
the worst enemies Of young fruit trees.
! some birds are Veritable thieves and
should at least be sorneiF hat subdued-
iThese are mostly birds such as the pur-
I PIE nHcn or me mouse IlAcn % lL-let OF
[ California that really do much harm by
IeauuE the tender buds from fruit trees
I While he cannot enter a very strong
/ plea for old Robin Redbr5ast' whom
one cannot dfsassociate from a th0us-
and beautiful childish tancles, lt is said
that IL wild fruit were more abundant.
Robin would have less 10 90 with folks
/ nice choice cherry trees.
! Wherever Wild fruit zuouuds. IL Is
[ found that the robin greatly prefers 10.
! knowing fun well that the OLD cat bird,
the robin. and some other lovers Of
/ choice fruits are TOO firmly fixed In the
/ hearts OF the American people 10 be eE-
/ terminated. it is suggested that a row
{ of wild fruit trees be planted about each
I orchard.
Birds are simply the natural forces,
and the best thing 20 do IS u make a
I study OF the matter, say the scientists,
and keen the class of birds best adapt
/ ed TO the pests OF certain LOCALITIES 50
/ equally balanced that while the birds
/ md plenty 60 live upon In the bug line
I there are not so many birds tnaL Lney
/ VIII be forced 10 resort 10 other klnds
/ of food
/ In fact. q more clever OF interesting
! piece of scientific discovery has not n
| wears been undertaken b9- the Govern
ment. OF one of greater value 20 tns
! country AT large.