The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1906-03-23

alizing the Importance Of correct infor-
nation on this subject, have examin-
ed the stomachs of $4,000 birds of var
ious kinds with the following results,
The blue bird is a good friend. de-
stroying harmful insects, and wild
fruit can be planted to encourage his
presence.
The robin is found to eat but little
cultivated fruit less than five per cent.
Nearly half Of his food consists of
wasps, ants, spiders. grasshoppers,
catapillers, etc. He also destroys the
March fly larvae which Injuries the
grass in hayfields.
The chickadee will in one day de-
stroy $3.50 eggs of the canker worm
moth, and farms where this bird is
encouraged to spend the winter are
remarkably free from these pests.
The brown thrasher eats some
cherries and grain, but these consti-
tute only IL per cent. of his food, and
he does great good by the destruction
of many beetles which would do far
more injury to the crops.
The house wren and butcher bird
do great good in destroying caterpil-
airs. bugs, crickets, spiders. grasshop-
pers, locusts, web worms, injurious
beetlesetc., etc.
The butcher bird and loggerhead
shrike destroy grasshoppers, mice. etc.
The cat bird is said to eat fruit,
but while this is true in some parts
of the country one third of its food
consists of harmful insects. This
bird prefers wild fruits to cultivated
such as berry bearing bushes, red
mulberry trees, etc.
Mr.. Judd suggests that the crops of
cherries and strawberries can be pro-
tected by planting the prolific Rus
sian mulberry which If planted in hen
yards and pig runs will afford ex-
cellent food for the hens and pigs be-
sides attracting the birds away from
more valuable fruit.
The viroes help the farmer in des-
troying harmful insects.
Cedar bird.-More than one-half of
its food consists of wild fruit and one
eight of insects which are among the
worst pests of the country, especially
the elm leaf beetle.
Swallows not only the greatest fly
catchers, but also destroys flying ants,
beetles and weevils.
The rose breasted grosbeak is fond
of potato-beetles, and is especially
helpful to the farmer
The meadow lark has been said to
eat clover seed. but that seems to be
a mistake, for 80 per cent. of this food
at clover time was found to be insects.
mostly grasshoppers. 1t is estimated
that the value Of the grass crop saved
By lealow larlls on township of 3S
square miles, each month during the
eAos's''lpRpti oNeNSbil 10 ttDOul DOOO. W.
He also destroys other insects. among
them some of the most injurious
beetles.
Professor Beal says: Far from be-
Ing Injurious, II is one of the most
useful of allies of agriculture, standing
almost without a peer as a destroyer
Of noxious insects"
The red winged blackbird is also
a friend, destroying quantities of cat
erpillers. grasshoppeers, and weevils,
and even when the cornields more
than pay for the corn eaten by des-
troying worms in the husks.
In winter 1t destroys seeds of rag
weed, fox tail grass and bird weed.
The crow blackbird destroys the
rose bug, curculio, May beetle, grass
hopper, cricket and locust The birds
follow the pillow and feed on grubs. 1t
is only when in rare Instances these
birds descend upon field in hundreds
of thousands that they may do much
injury.
The crow is said to feed on the
sprouting corn, and corn in the milk,
on cultivated fruit, and the eggs and
of young poultry and wild birds.
While it has been found that these
charges are true to certain extent
yet the amount destroyed is small
compared with the great good done in
destroying injurious insects and ami
mails. The eggs of young and poultry
constitute only one per cent. of his
food for the year
The crow destroys Injurious insects
-grasshoppers. May beetles, cut
worms, ETC. also mice. Moreover. he
does good service as a scavenger.
The blue jay has been accused like
crow of eating corn and young
birds and eggs, but it has been found
that he prefers mast, seeds OF trees.
such as acorns, ETC.. and % per cent.
of his food consists of grasshopper.
caterDillarS etc So that ba docs ,,,orr