. Useful birds and their protection. Containing brief descriptions of the more common and useful species of Massachusetts, with accounts of their food habits, and a chapter on the means of attracting and protecting birds. Birds; Birds. 182 USEFUL BIRDS. Quail and some of the notes of the Wood Thrush, together with those of many other birds, given by the Catbird. It may not be generally Jsnown that this bird, like many other species, often sings in a very low tone when it believes that danger is near. In October it sometimes repeats its spring ^^.. Fig. 60. — Catbird, one-half natural size. son
. Useful birds and their protection. Containing brief descriptions of the more common and useful species of Massachusetts, with accounts of their food habits, and a chapter on the means of attracting and protecting birds. Birds; Birds. 182 USEFUL BIRDS. Quail and some of the notes of the Wood Thrush, together with those of many other birds, given by the Catbird. It may not be generally Jsnown that this bird, like many other species, often sings in a very low tone when it believes that danger is near. In October it sometimes repeats its spring ^^.. Fig. 60. — Catbird, one-half natural size. song SO softly that it seems to come from far away when uttered within a few feet of the hearer. The bird's moods are many. It is in turn a merry jester, a fine musician, a mocking sprite, and a screaming termagant, but always an interesting study, and never prosaic or mediocre. No doubt the Catbird is useful, as it fills, in moist thickets, a place similar to that taken by its relative the Thrasher on the drier lands. Unfortunately, however, the poor bird has acquired a bad reputation. It is accused of sucking the eggs of other birds and destroying much fruit. The first charge must be dismissed as not proven, but the second is sustained by good evidence. Dr. Judd reports on the examination of two hundred and thirteen stomachs, from Florida to Kansas and Massachusetts. He finds that three per cent, of the food consists of carnivorous wasps and bees; spiders are also eaten; but the destruction of useful insects is more than made up for by the number of weevils, plant-feeding Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images that may have been digitally enhanced for readability - coloration and appearance of these illustrations may not perfectly resemble the original Forbush, Edward Howe, 1858-1929; Massachusetts. State Board of Agriculture. [Boston, Mass. ]
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, bookpublisherb, booksubjectbirds
