The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1915-11-19

So'eiuiy Skuuieu tue IOOd nab1ts Ol
these birds. Altogether there ar,
within the limits of the United State,
species Of thrushes, 8 of which ar,
commonly known as robins and blue
birds. The other 6 include tn,
Townsend solitaire. the wood, tn,
very. the gray cheek, the olive-back
and the hermit thrushes.
The robins and bluebirds mes,
close to houses, and even the SHES,
of the other species are content with
the seclusion of an acre or two OF
woodland or swamp. For this rea.
son the thrushes are among the best
known and most carefully protected
of native American birds, and at
times their numbers become so great
that it is feared they will do much
harm to crops and fruit. The re-
cent Investigations of the department
however show that there Is very lit
tie ground for this fear. On the
other hand, they destroy such n vast
number of insects that IL is probable
that without them many crops would
suffer serious damage.
OF all the thrushes. the robin is
probably the best known. II has
been frequently accused of destroy
ing fruits and berries, but it has now
been ascertained that this only oc-
ours in regions that are so thickly
settled that there is no wild fruit
upon which the robin may subsist. In
some years the bird is great pest
in the olive orchards of California.
but 1t is probable that they are driven
to the orchards because of the scar
city of native berries at these times.
Where wild fruit is available. the
birds seem to prefer this to the cul.i-
waited varieties.
Like the robin. the bluebird is |
very domestic, but unlike the robin, |
II does not prey upon any cultivated |
product or work any injury whatso- .
ever to the fruit season in fact, five /
sixth of its food consists OF insects. /
IL seems. therefore. that the common
practice of encouraging the buebird
10 nest near houses by placing CON
'enient boxes in which it may build
is home is thoroughly justified
detailed description OF the hab-
Is of the robins and bluebirds is CON
aimed in Department Bulletin No
II. Bulletin $50. which has lust
'een published, takes up the habits
# the six other species of the thrush
,roup which are not quite so well
.nOwn. These birds also feed prin-
ipaIly on insects and fruit, but
rcat portion of the fruit which they
onsume is wild berries Domestic ,
ruits are eaten so sparingly by these ,
pecies that the damage done is quite ,
egligibfe.
The bird known as the Townsend q,
Dlitaire Is noted chiefly for it's song. +,
'hich is said to be at times the finest =,
{ any of the thrush family. This
lrush, however, confines itself al
Ost entirely TO the mountains and O.
Drges of the West. The wood J.
rush. on the other hand, is dis ~
ibuted over the eastern part OF the :,
nited States, and is frequenter of n
zen groves and bushy pastures. This n
rusa also is noted for its sweet .,
ng, especially in the early evening. >,
does not nest in gardens or or
ards. however. and is seldom seen q,
'out farm buildings. so that many =,
ople who are familiar with its song -,
,uld not know the bird by sight. "
lie wood thrush consumes a number 10
very harmful Insects, such as the .,
dorado potato beetle and white ~,
ubs. The fruit which it eats it 70
ually picks up from the ground ~,
stead of taking fresh from the m
'e. There is therefore no reason
~ the wood thrush should not be ~,
idly protected. NO