. 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. 288 U8EFUL worms and other insects were plentiful. This shows what an extraordinary number of cutworms Robins will eat, even when other insect food may easily be had. They are not at all particular regarding the kind of cater- pillars they secure, but feed eagerly on most common species; even the woolly bear {Isia Isabella) falls a victim. Wher- ever the
. 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. 288 U8EFUL worms and other insects were plentiful. This shows what an extraordinary number of cutworms Robins will eat, even when other insect food may easily be had. They are not at all particular regarding the kind of cater- pillars they secure, but feed eagerly on most common species; even the woolly bear {Isia Isabella) falls a victim. Wher- ever the gipsy moth, the brown-tail moth, or the forest tent moth swarm, the Robin eata their caterpillars. All the spanworms seem to be favorite morsels. The Robin takes can- kerworms, tent caterpillars, curculios, leaf- eating and wood-boring beetles, and ground beetles. Many wireworms are taken, but grab, ea7en by ^^^ Robin renders no greater service on the ^bins. farm than the destruction of the white grubs of May beetles and so-called " June bugs" of the genus Lachnostema. These white grubs, if unchecked, destroy the roots of grasses to such an extent that they ruin the sod of meadows and fields, killing all the grass. In such cases the top of the dead turf may be peeled off, a mere worthless mass of dead, straw-like vegetation. The grubs cut off strawberry plants just below the ground, killing the plants and sometimes ruining whole beds. Corn and other grains are destroyed. Potatoes, turnips, carrots, and root crops of all kinds are eaten and ruined. Where the grubs are plentiful, hardly a plant is safe from their ravages. By reason of their subterranean habits, they are so difficult of 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 a farm convinced me that the Robin ranks first among the natural enemies of the white grub. In 1901 my garden
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