Identifier: bookofbirdscommo00hens (find matches)
Title: The book of birds; common birds of town and country and American game birds
Year: 1921 (1920s)
Authors: Henshaw, Henry W. (Henry Wetherbee), 1850-1930 National Geographic Society (U.S.) Fuertes, Louis Agassiz, 1874-1927 Kennard, Frederic Hedge, 1865- Cooke, Wells Woodbridge, 1858-1916 Shiras, George, 1859-1942
Subjects: Birds -- United States
Publisher: Washington, D.C., National geographic society

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th country and suburban life. Its tiny body,long bill, sharp eyes, and strong feet peculiarlyadapt it for creeping into all sorts of nooksand crannies where lurk the insects it feeds on.A cavity in a fence post, a hole in a tree, or abox will be welcomed alike by this busybodyas a nesting site; but since the advent of thequarrelsome English sparrows such domicilesare at a premium and the wrens eggs andfamily are safe only in cavities having en-trances too small to admit the sparrow. Henceit behooves the farmers boy to provide boxesthe entrances to which are about an inch indiameter, nailing these under gables of barnsand outhouses or in orchard trees. In this waythe numbers of this useful bird can be in-creased, greatly to the advantage of the farmer.Grasshoppers, beetles, caterpillars, bugs, andspiders are the principal elements of its food.Cutworms, weevils, ticks, and plant lice areamong the injurious forms eaten. The nest-lings of house wrens consume great quantitiesof insects. 10
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Chickadke15r()\\ N Crkkier WllITE-IlREASTKI) NlTHATCH House Wren 11 CATBIRD (Dumetella carolinensis) Length, al)Out o inches. The slaty grayplumage and black cap and tail arc distinctive. Range; Jireeds throughout tiie United Stateswest to New Mexico, Utah, Oregon, and Wash-ington, and in southern Canada; winters fromthe Gulf States to Panama. ■ Habits and economic status: In many locali-ties the catbird is one of the commonest birds.Tangled growths are its favorite nesting placesand retreats, but berry patches and ornamentalshrubbery are not disdained. Hence the birdis a familiar dooryard visitor. The bird has afme song, unfortunately marred by occasionalcat calls. With habits similar to those of themocking bird and a song almost as varied, thecatbird has never secured a similar place inpopular favor. Half of its food consists offruit, and the cultivated crops most often in-jured are cherries, strawberries, raspberries,and blackberries. Beetles, ants, crickets, andgrasshoppers are

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