. 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 . theplants and sometimes ruining whole beds. Corn and othergrains arc destroyed. Potatoes, turnips, carrots, and rootcrops of all kinds are eaten and ruined. Where the grubsare plentiful, hardly a plant is safe from their reason of their subterranean habits, they are so difficultof control that were they not checked by their natural ene-mies it might be impossible
. 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 . theplants and sometimes ruining whole beds. Corn and othergrains arc destroyed. Potatoes, turnips, carrots, and rootcrops of all kinds are eaten and ruined. Where the grubsare plentiful, hardly a plant is safe from their reason of their subterranean habits, they are so difficultof control that were they not checked by their natural ene-mies it might be impossible for the farmer to raise hay, grain,or vegetables. Careful observation during three years on afarm convinced me that the Robin ranks first among thenatural enemies of the Mhite grub. In 11)01 my garden wasseriously infested with white grubs ; there was some fear thatit would l)e difficult to raise either strawberries or roots ; butit was soon seen that somethino; was ditja-ino; funnel-shapedholes alono; the rows, and takinof out the o-rubs. A closewatch AA-as kept, to discover the author of this good work,and it was invariably found to be the Robin. The birdsseemed to locate the grubs either by sight or hearing, and. PLATE XXVI. —Robin on Nest, (riiotograpli from life.) (Copy-riiilit l)y (. A. Keecl.) (From tlie aimual report of tlie Massachu-setts State Board of Agriculture, ) BIRDS OF FIELD AND GARDEN. 289 dug down to them. The hole was often two to three inchesdeep, and they found the grubs unerringly. They mightnot have been able to do this had the surface not been keptwell fined and mellow. The Robin revels in a well-cultivated garden. If he is notmolested, he will follow behind })low, hoe, or cultivator, andpick up the grubs that are turned u}), before they are able tobury themselves in the soil. The Robins about our placesoon learned to pick up grubs and worms that were thrownto them. The number that they find in a season is Ix^yondcomputation. They were so dilige
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