Charlevoix county herald., 1911-09-02

By w. T. M'ATEE. Assistant, Biological
Survey, United States Department
of Agricultural
Seven kinds of finches, commonly
known as grosbeaks, summer within
our boundaries The majority of these
are good friends of the farmer, and de-
serve to be widely known in order
that thejr services may be appreciated.
The grosbeaks are easily distinguished
from other finches by their stout form,
bright plumage, massive bills, and
melodious voices. Two of them live
mainly in cold mountainous areas, and
having little to do with farms or with
the insects that prey on crops, may
be dismissed without further notice.
The other five live largely in agricul-
tural regions and secure most or their
food about cultivated lands. All or
them feed to some extent upon crops,
but only one does appreciable harm.
On the other hand, all perform inval-
liable service in destroying certain OF
our worst insect pests.
The rosebreast has an extensive
range. breeding in Kansas and the
mountains of Tennessee north to New
foundland and the Great Slave lake
region. II eats some green peas. and
is charged with injuring orchards,
both by budding and by eating the
fruit. IOur Investigations lend no sup
port to the latter accusation, and, al
though the birds eat peas, they invari-
ably consume enough injurious insects
to more than offset the damage.
The rosebreast has long been held
in high esteem because of its habit OF
preying upon the Colorado potato
beetle. and the name potato-bug bird
suggests its important services IN
this direction. Larvae, as well as
adult beetles, are consumed, and a
great many are fed to nestlings. NC
less than tenth of the total food OF
the rosebreast examined consists oil
potato beetles-evidence that the bird
is one of the most important enemies
of the pest. It's services in devouring
other exceedingly harmful insects are
scarcely less valuable. 1t vigorously
attacks cucumber beetles and many OF
the scale insects. 1t proved an act
tive enemy of the Rocky Mountain 10
Gust during that insects ruinous In
vasion. and among the other pests II
consumes are the spring and fall can
kerworms. orchard and forest tent
caterpillars, tussock. gypsy, and brown
tail moths, plum curculio, army worm
andyhinch bug. In fact, not one OF our
birdg has a better record. The rose
breast attacks the worst enemies ol
agriculture, making them its favorite
prey. and time after time 1t has rem
dered valuable aid in checking theii
destructive infestations.
The black-headed grosbeak ranges
from Southern Mexico to British co
lumbia. North Dakota, and Nebraska
II fills the same place in the west thai
the rosebreast does in the east, ant
economically is fully as important
In parts of its range it is destructive
To early fruit and attacks also greer
meas and beans. However, since b!
proper precautions such losses may b'
minimized or altogether prevented
they should not be given too muci
weight in estimating the value of th'
bird. Instead of being regarded al
an enemy by western orchardists. th'
blackhead should he esteemed as ;
friend. since it is a foe to the wors
nests of horticulture-the scale in
sAts-which compose a fourth Of IT
food The black olive scale alone con
stitutes fifth of the birds subsist
ence. and the frosted scale and apr
cot scale, or European fruit Lecanium
also are destroyed. In May consider
able numbers Of cankerworms and cod
ling moths are eaten, and almost
sixth of the birds seasonal food cor
sists of flower beetles, which do incal
culabls damage to cultivated flower