File:The economic value of birds to the state (1903) (14752354775).jpg

Identifier: cu31924055337681 (find matches)
Title: The economic value of birds to the state
Year: 1903 (1900s)
Authors: Chapman, Frank M. (Frank Michler), 1864-1945 Fuertes, Louis Agassiz, 1874-1927
Subjects: Bird pests Beneficial birds
Publisher: Albany, J. B. Lyon Company, Printers
Contributing Library: Cornell University Library
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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is asserted, however, byvarious authors to feed on beetles, spiders, seeds in the fields, and along shore onminute shells, shrimps, etc. WRENS and THRASHERS. Family Troglodytidae. House Wren (Troglodytes aedon).— As regards food habits, the House Wren isentirely beneficial. Practically, he can be said to live upon animal food only, for anexamination of 52 stomachs showed that 98 per cent of the stomach contents wasmade up of insects or their allies, and only 2 per cent was vegetable, including bitsof grass and similar matter, evidently taken by accident with the insects. Half ofthis food consisted of grasshoppers and beetles; the remainder of caterpillars, bugs,and spiders. As the House Wren is a prolific breeder, frequently rearing fromtwelve to sixteen young in a season, a family of these birds must cause considerablereduction in the number of insects in a garden. Wrens are industrious foragers,searching every tree, shrub, or vine for caterpillars, examining every post and rail of
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Upper figure, BLACK AND WHITE WARBLERLower figure, AMERICAN REDSTART ABOUT NATURAL SIZE. ECONOMIC VALUE OF BIRDS TO THE STATE. 57 the fence, and every cranny in the wall for insects or spiders. They do not as arule, fly far afield, but work industriously in the immediate vicinity of their nests.In this way they become valuable aids in the garden or orchard, and by providingsuitable nesting boxes they may be induced to take up residence where their serv-ices will do most good. Their eccentricities in the selection of a home are wellknown. Almost anything from an old cigar box to a tomato can, an old teapot, aworn boot, or a horses skull, is acceptable, provided it be placed well up from theground and out of reach of cats and other prowlers. (Beal.) Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum).— The food of the Brown Thrasher con-sists of both fruit and insects. An examination of I2i stomachs showed 36 per centof vegetable and 64 of animal food, practically all insects, and mostly taken inspring

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