The new era. (Walden, Colo.) 1906-19??, 1911-08-17

CBy w. T. MATTE. Assistant. Biological
Survey. United States Department
OF AgricultureD
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 their 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 Ave live largely in agricul-
food about cultivated lands. All Of
them feed to some extent upon crops.
but only one does appreciable harm.
On the other hand, all perform inval-
table 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. 1t eats some green peas. and
is charged with injuring orchards.
both by budding and by eating the
fruit Our 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 we'll as
adult beetles, are consumed, and a
great many are fed to nestlings. No
less than tenth of the total food OF
the rosebreast examined consists OF
potato beetles-evidence that the bird
is one of the most important enemies
of the pest. Its 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 To-
Gust during that insects ruinous in
vasion, and among the other pests 1t
consumes are the spring and fall can
kerworms, orchard and forest tent
caterpillars, tussock. gypsy. and brown
tail moths. plum curculio, army worm,
and chinch bug. In fact. not one of our
birds has a better record. The rose
breast attacks the worst enemies OF
agriculture, making them its favorite
prey, and time after time It has rem
nercd valuable aid in checking their
destructive infestations.
The black-headed grosbeak ranges
from Southern Mexico to British Co
iumbia. North Dakota, and Nebraska.
1t fills the same place in the west that
the rosebreast does in the east. and
economically is fully as important
In parts OF it's range it is destructive
to. early fruit and attacks also green
peas and beans However. since by
proper precautions such losses may be
minimized or altogether prevented
they should not be given too much
weight In estimating the value of the
bird. Instead Of being regarded as
an enemy by western orchardists. the
blackhead should be esteemed as 6
friend, since it Is a foe to the wors
pests of horticulture-the scale in
,ects-which compose a fourth of it!
food The black olive scale alone con
stitutes a fifth of the birds subsist
ence, and the frosted scale and april
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 inca
culable damage to cultivated flower