Show interesting ln anfor for C M n thein supplied about 4 by the bureau am e of al survey of the aliff L un united cited states VV 0 apart ment of agriculture gri culture T white crowned sparrow leuc length soyen soven inches tile the only similar sparrow the whito throat t has a yellow spot in front of oya eye dreads in canada the mountains mount alna of now mexico colorado wyoming Wy orning and montana and chenco to the coast winters in tho south bouth ern cm half of tho the united states and in northern mexico habits and economic status this beautiful sparrow Is IB much moro numerous mime roua in ili tho the western than in tile tho eastern states whore where indeed it la Is rather rare in the east it to Is shy and b but it I 1 Is s much bolder and more conspicuous in the far gestand We stand there often frequents gardens ind and parks like most of its family it Is a seed cater by preference orenco and insects comprise very little more than 7 per cent of its ita diet caterpillars are the largest item with some beetles boet loa a few ants and wasps and somo some bugs among which are black olive scales the great bulk of food however consists of weed bemis which amount to 74 7 per cent of the whole in california this bird to Is ac aused of eating the buds and blossoms of fruit trees but buds or blossoms were found in only 30 out of cha and probably it Is only under ox ex optional opt lonal circumstances that it does any damage in this way evidently nel thor tho the far tanner nor the er has much to fear from the white crowned sparrow the fruit it oats eats Is mostly wild and the grain etten Is waste or volunteer I 1 common crow corvus length nineteen inches range breeds throughout the united states and most moat of canada winters generally in the united states habits and economic status tuB the general habits of the crow are universally ver sally known its ability to commit such misdeeds deoda as pulling corn and stealing eggs and fruit and to get away unscathed Is little short abort of mar bolous much of tho the crows success in life Is duo to operation cooperation co and tile the kocial instinct of 0 the species i has its highest expression in the winter roosts boosts which are sometimes frequented by hundreds of thousands of crows from these boosts roosts daily fil flights ilits ot at many miles are made in search ot of food injury to sprouting corn is the most frequent complaint against this species but by coating the seed grain with coal tar rolat of this damage may be prevented 1 looses of poultry and eggs may be averted by proper housing and the judicious use of wire netting the insect food of the crow includes udea wire wireworks wireworms worms cutworms cut worms white grubs and grass grasshoppers hoopers and during out breaks of bf tl tle ae insects the crow ren dern deri good service the bird Is also an efficient clent scavenger but bul chiefly bemuse because of its destruction of beneficial wild birds and their eggs the crow must be classed as a criminal and a reduction in its numbers number s in local localities tile a where it Is seriously destructive ii IB justifiable R red ed winged blackbird Age Agela lalue luu length about nine and one halt hall inches range breeds and north orth america south of the ba barren are n gro grounds U it d s winters in southern halt half of united states aud and south to costa rica habits anti anil economic st afife tho prattles pr atiles loa of tho the upper tipper val ley with their numerous and ponds furnish ideal it eating places placed f for or i redwings red wings and consequently this rol ro glon lias has become tile tho great bre edlia ground for tile tho clos those pra irlon pour forth tho the vast flocks that play havoc with grain floyds east of tho appalachian range marshes mar olies on tho the shores shares ot of takes rivers and estuaries are tho the only available breeding altos ind and BB as those these aro are comparatively flaw and small tho the species to la touch much IOB abundant abunda tit than in tho the west rod red wings aro are eminently gregarious living tn in flocks and breeding hi coia tho the food of tho the redwing consists of 27 per cent animal matter and 73 por per cent vegetable insects constitute practically ono one fourth of tho food beatles Ile otlea largely weevils we evils a most harmful group amount to ap 1 per cent grasshoppers are eaten in very every month and amount to about pe per r cent caterpillars among them W raw the injurious army worm are eaten at all seasons anda and aggregate 6 per cent ants wasps bugs flies files dragon hies flies and spiders also arb aro eaten the afie vegetable food consists of seeds in eluding grain of 0 which oats la Is the favorite and some small email fruits when in jarge flocks lacapa bloof 0 C doing great barm to grain firra tn flicker colastea auretus au rotus length thirteen inches the yel low under surface of the wing yellow tat tall shafts and white rump are char act range breeds in the eastern united states west to the plains and in the forested parts ot of canada and alaska w winters in most ot of the eastern united states habits and economic status the flicker inhabits the open country rathor rather than the forest and delights in regions whore where trees are numerous and scattered it nests in any large cavity in a tree and readily appropriates an artificial box it Is possible therefore to insure the presence ot at this useful bird about the farm ind and to increase its numbers it to la the most terrestrial of our woodpeck erst and procures much of its food froia the ground the largest item at 0 ant mat mal food ta Is ants ot of which the flicker eats eata more than any ather common bird ants anis wore were found in ortho of the 3 W 0 XA ya T ax e stomachs ega examined mined and 98 stord atom 1 ache contained no other food one stomach contained over and two others hold held over each while bugs are rot pot largely eaten by the flicker one stomach contained 17 11 ci Q chinch bugs stid fruits are next neat to ants in importance in the fl ickers t dietary of these sour BOW gum and wild b black sherry stand at the head the r food habits of this bird are such sach aeto as to J recommend it to complete comp letb protection protect fon t J what interested her 1 now about this life insurance insurances J contemplate taking ouid prem luina 1 airy vary Prem luma 0 chirped awant 1 3 I want a plush covered postcard al ajl bum john 7 Q f s t i rs ft a f rt |